Effect of a Structured Physical Exercise Program on Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation for Hemodialysis in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

For patients living with Chronic Kidney Disease who are preparing to start hemodialysis, having a well-functioning arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is essential. Although the AVF is considered the best type of vascular access, its maturation process does not always go as expected-studies show that in 28% to 53% of cases, the fistula does not mature properly, making effective dialysis more difficult. There is growing interest in using physical exercise as a way to support AVF maturation. International guidelines even recommend arm exercises for this purpose. However, there is still no clear agreement on what type of exercise, how often, or how intense it should be. This study aims to evaluate whether a structured exercise program focused on the AVF arm can help improve the fistula's development and overall function.

NCT Number	NCT06960304
Lead Sponsor	Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, EPE
Conditions	Chronic Kidney Disease Requiring Hemodialysis
Enrollment	128 participants
Start Date	2025-01-16
Primary Completion	2027-12-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-12-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-07-08