NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A structured moderate-intensity physical activity and strength/flexibility program slowed kidney function decline compared with health education, an analysis of a randomized clinical trial suggests.
"The amount of physical activity required to improve kidney function was small," Dr. Michael Shlipak and Dr. Anoop Sheshadri, both of the University of California, San Francisco, told Reuters Health by email. "The average difference in daily step count between the two groups was only approximately 500 steps at year one and 400 steps at year two, and nearly all participants walked less than 5,000 steps per day."
"Interestingly," they added, "the effects of physical activity seemed to be independent of any changes in blood pressure or weight."
"Clinicians should strongly consider prescribing physical activity and moderate-intensity exercise for older adults to slow the rate of decline of kidney function, among other health benefits, particularly because lifestyle interventions like this one avoid the possible harms of medication side effects," they said.
"It is important to clarify that the intervention was not solely walking, but also included strength and flexibility exercises," they added. "With proper supervision, the LIFE study shows that this type of intervention is feasible even in older, sedentary adults."
