The Borg scale is a sustainable method for prescribing and monitoring self-administered aerobic endurance exercise in patients with chronic kidney disease

Aim: To examine adherence, performance, and safety of self-administered aerobic endurance exercise when exercise intensity was prescribed and self-monitored with the Borg RPE scale in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the relationship between performed exercise and change in walking distance. Materials and Methods: 97 men and 50 women (age 66 ± 14 years, measured GFR 22 ± 8 mL/min/1.73m²) were prescribed 60 min aerobic endurance exercise/week at RPE 13–15. The 6-minute walk test was measured at 0, 4, 8 and 12 months of exercise. Results: 100 patients completed the study, 80% reported exercise intensity at 12 months, 74% performed exercise within the prescribed RPE. Median RPE was 13 (13–15). Median duration was 56 (33–109) minutes/week. Patients with a short walking distance at baseline performed significantly less minutes of exercise/week (p = 0.039). There was no correlation between weekly duration and change in walking distance. No exercise-related incidents were recorded. Walking distance improved significantly by 30 ± 56 metres (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The Borg RPE scale is useful, acceptable, simple and safe for prescribing and monitoring intensity of self-administered aerobic endurance exercise in patients with CKD. A RPE of 13–15 improved walking distance in well-functioning and deconditioned patients, within a wide range of weekly duration of exercise.