Simple exercises can help improve the health of patients with kidney disease, according to research carried out at London’s King’s College Hospital.

Researchers found that 12 months of exercise-based rehabilitation significantly slowed the rate of kidney function decline and improved cardio-respiratory fitness, compared with standard care.

“Exercise, besides protecting the kidneys, also will improve fitness, general health and quality of life and has the potential to reduce cardiovascular risk, a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with CKD,” says Dr Sharlene Greenwood, who headed up the research.

Another study, carried out by the National Research Council Institute of Clinical Physiology in Italy, also concluded that dialysis patients who took exercise by walking improved their physical performance beyond those who were not following an exercise programme.

This research adds to the growing body of evidence that exercise benefits health at all stages of the life cycle/health spectrum.

Elsewhere, Southampton’s university hospitals is using an innovative bedside bicycle to mobilise patients once their condition is stable. In its first year, the team treated 97 patients this way and saw the average stay in intensive care shorten by two days and reported improved confidence levels from patients.