People who are on dialysis have a lot of different symptoms.  They experience restless legs, cramping, fatigue and low blood pressure that can lead to myocardial stunning. Our main goal is to see how exercise in hemodialysis modifies symptoms - or if it does at all.
 
Researchers have identified more than 30 symptoms associated with hemodialysis.  Many people with end-stage kidney disease report feeling very ill and tired after a dialysis session.
 
Cycling on modified stationary bikes during dialysis can help patients feel better. One of the key goals of the study is to identify whether that improved sense of well-being is measurable and quantifiable. Does the increased blood circulation and heart-rate achieved while pedalling lead to a better clearance of impurities in the blood? Does it help protect patients from severe dips in blood pressure, which puts them at risk for cardiac injury?
 
A lot of patients feel really poorly after hemodialysis. It sometimes takes them a short time, but sometimes hours to recover and feel like they can get up and do things. The Kidney Foundation has given me the opportunity to take my smaller idea and pilot results and put it into a bigger project. It will actually be able to address a very important research question: Can exercise play a role in improving how patients on dialysis feel?
 
The patients drove this from the very beginning. They were looking for a physician to help provide advice, and I was interested, and it was a good match. I like it because it is a bit outside the box and the focus is on improving the day-to-day lives of people on dialysis.
 
The Fitness and Wellness program is available to patients across the Winnipeg area.  The service offers fitness counselling, and a ten-week introductory program to help patients get started on an exercise routine and a “cycling during dialysis” program. It can be hard for people with health problems to feel motivated to exercise, but there are many significant health and emotional benefits. It can help bring back a sense of control that can be lost when managing a chronic illness. 
 
I think it is really important with a chronic disease to not always be talking about disease and illness but talking about how we can be well. Remaining as active as we can, within our individual limitations, is really how we can be well.