Effects of Home-based or Center-based Aerobic Exercise in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Cardiopulmonary capacity

The test began with a fixed inclination of 1%. The initial velocity was 2 km/h during the first three minutes with increments of 0.5km/h every minute until the patient reaches physical exhaustion. The ventilatory variables were measured using a gas analyzer. The highest oxygen uptake obtained during the last stage reached was considered the peak oxygen uptake. The ventilatory threshold was determined as the stage preceding the first occurrence of the exponential increase in ventilation, increase in the ventilatory equivalent for oxygen and increase in expired fraction of oxygen. The respiratory compensation point was determined as the stage preceding the second occurrence of the exponential increase in ventilation, increase in the ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide and decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide. Data were analyzed by the average of 20 seconds.

Time frame: 24 weeks

Functional capacity (walk, sit-stand, arm curl, sit-reach, back scratch, timed up and go)

Functional capacity was assessed using a variety of objective measures. These included six-minute walk test (maximal distance walked along an internal corridor during six minutes), two-minute step test (maximal number of steps achieved in stationary walking during two minutes, used to quantifying the aerobic power), sit-to-stand test (maximal sit to stand cycles achieved in 30 seconds, used to quantifying the muscular endurance of the legs), arm curl test (maximal number of arm curl cycles in 30 seconds, used to quantifying the muscular endurance of the arms), sit and reach test (maximal distance achieved in the Wells bench, used to quantifying the general flexibility), back scratch test (maximum amplitude of the arms used to quantifying the arms flexibility) and time up and go test (shorter time to rise from a chair, walk three meters and sit back, used to quantifying the functional mobility).

Time frame: 24 weeks