INTRODUCTION: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have reduced physical and functional capacity when compared with the general population. Hemodialysis (HD) restricts patients activities, favoring a sedentary lifestyle and leading to functional limitations. HD patients are less active, present low exercise tolerance and have high physical deconditioning. Physical exercise programs have been proposed as a strategy not only to treat clinical symptoms, but also to reduce physical limitations and improve the quality of life of these patients. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to review the literature on the effects of physical exercise (aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer for the lower limbs) on CKD undergoing HD. METHODS: The Medline, PubMed, SciELO, Embase and DirectScience databases were searched. RESULTS: Fourteen randomized controlled clinical trials were analyzed as regards the timing of the intervention during the HD session, exercise intensity and frequency, the duration of the intervention and the main results. CONCLUSION: The studies demonstrated that aerobic exercises performed during HD improve the aerobic capacity and physical conditioning, reduce fatigue and anxiety, improve muscle capillarization and resting blood pressure, increase exercise duration and improve urea clearance.

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