Patients receiving regular hemodialysis (HD) treatments are at a higher risk of cardiovascular events and death as HD can cause a decrease in the pumping of the heart during treatment called 'stunning'. Intradialytic exercise has emerged as a safe and effective non-drug approach to improve cardiovascular health and is now recommended for patients undergoing HD. It is currently advised that HD patients engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise three times per week. This study will evaluate the impact of exercise intensity in the HD population and determine if high impact exercise can offer better protection to the heart against HD-induced myocardial stunning.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 79 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Must be on chronic hemodialysis for at least 3 months
* Age ≥ 18 years of age
* Willing and able to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Regular vigorous exercise outside hemodialysis
* \> 79 years of age
* Intradialytic exercise in the past 3 months
* Poor echogenicity
* Acute coronary syndrome in the past 3 months
* Unstable arrhythmia/angina
* Shortness of breath at rest or with minimal activity
* Symptomatic hypoglycemia (\>2x/week in the week prior to enrolment)
* Symptomatic peripheral arterial disease
* Unable or deemed unsafe to exercise for any reason
* Severe musculoskeletal or orthopedic conditions
* Aortic stenosis
* Hypertrophic cardiopathy
* Severe pulmonary hypertension
* Symptomatic hypertension
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in the number of left ventricular segments undergoing a greater than 20% reduction in longitudinal strain as detected by echocardiogram.
Timeframe: Week 1 to Week 3
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07119593
SponsorLondon Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's