INTRODUCTION: Physical activity in nephropathy patients submitted to hemodialysis becomes important since these patients presents marked reduction in the functionality and conditioning that impairs life quality. However, the benefits, the most appropriate type of exercise and parameters such as intensity, frequency and duration are not well defined in this population. OBJECTIVES: To review the literature about the effects of physical exercise in chronic renal patients submitted to hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEDLINE, LILACS, PEDro, PubMed and SciELO bases were searched, being selected articles (clinical randomized controlled trials, series of case and case study) in languages, English and Portuguese, published between 2000 and 2010. RESULTS: 105 articles were found, 82 from PubMed database, 16 from PEDro and 7 from SciELO base. No articles were found in MEDLINE and LILACS bases. From these ones, only seven fulfilled the inclusion criteria. From these seven articles, an active manual search was held in the list of references of these publications, being possible to verify in them the presence of only three references. CONCLUSION: By the reviewed articles it was possible to conclude that either aerobic and/or physical exercise have incremental effects on functional capacity, muscle function and life quality of nephropathy patients submitted to hemodialysis. Therefore, physical training should be considered as an important therapeutic modality, being central the insertion of the physiotherapist in dialysis centers as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Hemodialysis; Aerobic exercise; Quality of life
