# Is it safe to train while on hemodialysis?

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/is-it-safe-to-train-while-on-hemodialysis/3033>\
**Category:** Medical Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [August 17, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/is-it-safe-to-train-while-on-hemodialysis/3033 "2018-08-17T17:14:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![csikosben777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@csikosben777](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/csikosben777)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/is-it-safe-to-train-while-on-hemodialysis/3033/1 "2018-08-17T17:14:00Z")

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Hey guys, my father has always been strenghttraining, 1year ago he has been diagnosed with kidney failure, and for 3months he has been on hemodialysis. By a surgery, a fistula was put in his right arm so that they can dialyse him. My question is whether is it safe to train while on hemodialysis. He has lost a significant amount of mucle mass, and he would feel a lot better if he could gain it back. One of the doctors told him he could go to the gym, but the other said he was not advised to lift more than 2kg’s with the right arm. What is your take on that subject guys?

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**Author:** ![Austin\_Baraki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/austin_baraki/32/1095_2.png) [@Austin\_Baraki](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Austin_Baraki)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/is-it-safe-to-train-while-on-hemodialysis/3033/2 "2018-08-17T19:27:56Z")

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Yes, it is very important for hemodialysis patients train, as there are numerous complex metabolic consequences to kidney disease that result in muscle and bone wasting, as well as increased risk of cardiovascular disease. I wrote about this in our UpToDate article, so here are a few references on the topic.

I cannot provide direct recommendations regarding the use of his arm with the AV fistula, unfortunately.

> **[Review of muscle wasting associated with chronic kidney disease - PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20181807/)**
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> Muscle wasting increases the morbidity and mortality associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has been attributed to malnutrition. In most patients, this is an incorrect diagnosis because simply feeding more protein aggravates uremia....

> **[Resistance training to reduce the malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15042537/)**
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> Resistance training reduced inflammation and improved nutritional status in individuals with moderate chronic kidney disease consuming a low-protein diet. These results need to be investigated further in larger cohorts of patients with varying stages...

> **[Resistance training to counteract the catabolism of a low-protein diet in...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11730397/)**
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> By improving muscle mass, nutritional status, and function, resistance training seems to be effective against the catabolism of a low-protein diet and uremia in patients with renal failure.

> **[Effect of progressive resistance training on measures of skeletal muscle...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24696049/)**
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> Robust evidence from RCTs indicates that PRT can induce skeletal muscle hypertrophy and increase muscular strength and HR-QOL outcomes in men and women with CKD. Therefore, clinical practice guidelines should be updated to inform clinicians on the...

> **[Resistance training in hemodialysis patients: a review - PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24729123/)**
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> This review demonstrates that RT improves muscle strength, some biochemical parameters, and quality of life of the HD patients.