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Introduction: Intradialytic exercise is essential for improving physical function for older patients. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the effects of exercise therapy and aging. Methods: This multicenter cohort study included 1176 patients aged 40–89 years, who participated in an intradialytic exercise program, comprising stretching and resistance training, three times per week for 12 months. Isometric knee extension strength (IKES), 10‐m walking speed, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) were measured at baseline and after 12 months. The patients were divided according to age as follows: 40–59, 60–69, 70–79, and 80–89 years. A linear mixed‐effects model examined the improvement within‐group and between‐control differences, as the 40–59 age group was the control group. Findings: The 40–59, 60–69, 70–79, and 80–89 age groups comprised 180, 317, 466, and 213 participants, respectively. Within‐group differences, all the age groups significantly improved IKES and SPPB. The 10‐m walking speed [0.02 (0.02) m/s] and GNRI [0.38 (0.33)] did not improved only in the 80–89 age group despite other age groups significantly improved. Between‐control differences, IKES of the 70–79 age group [−0.24 (−0.42 to −0.06) %] was significantly lower improvement than control. GNRI of all the older groups were significantly smaller improvement than control (p < 0.05). Discussion: The older group demonstrated difficulty in improving walking ability and nutritional status compared with the younger groups. Clinicians need to consider the difference in effectiveness due to age and prescribe intradialytic exercises accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the basic data on the effectiveness and safety of the system in healthy subjects using an immersive virtual reality (VR) exercise system specialized for therapeutic exercise therapy during dialysis or hospital use. A total of 15 healthy adult subjects performed four exercises, namely lifting and rowing exercises using VR and each movement exercise without VR (control). The simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ) was administered pre- and post-operatively to assess for VR sickness. Blood pressure, heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exhaustion, Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition Japanese version, and muscle activity (iEMG) were measured using electromyography. The correlation between changes in mood states and HR or iEMG results was examined. The SSQ measured post-VR exercise was 11.2 (18.7-7.5) and 11.2 (7.5-29.9) points in the lifting and rowing VR, respectively. The HR in lifting (VR, 82.5 ± 12.7 vs control, 71.6 ± 10.6 bpm, P <0.05) and rowing (VR, 94.2 ± 13.1 vs control, 83.5 ± 12.0, P <0.05) with VR exercise was significantly higher than in control. No significant differences were observed between the other variables. There was a positive correlation between HR and negative mood in the lifting VR condition (r=0.64, P <0.05), but not in the control group. Contrastingly, there was a positive correlation between iEMG and negative mood in rowing control (r=0.56), but not VR. Safety was confirmed, with no VR sickness or discontinuation of the system. Exercise therapy using VR resulted in a higher exercise load. This VR system has the potential for additional effective intradialytic exercises and hospital use., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.