Background: Hemodialysis (HD) patients usually suffer from exercise intolerance. However, exercise training improves their exercise tolerance and quality of life.

Objective: This study was designed to compare the effects of aerobic and resisted exercise on exercise tolerance and fatigue response in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Fifty-six sedentary patients with CKD were recruited from the dialysis unit of the King Abdulaziz University Teaching Hospital (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). Participants were allocated randomly into two study groups; group (A) received intradialytic aerobic exercise training on cycle ergometers. However, group (B) received intradialytic resisted exercise training for six months.

Results: There was a 30.05 % reduction in mean values of MFI total score and 32.04 % and 32.13 % increase in mean values of hand grip strength and six-minute walking test respectively in group (A). While, there was a 16.78 % reduction in mean values of MFI total score and 17.35 % and 16.20 % increase in mean values of hand grip strength and six-minute walking test respectively in group (B). In addition, the differences between both groups were significant at the end of the study.

Conclusion: Aerobic exercise alleviates fatigue and improves exercise tolerance more effective than resistance exercise among hemodialysis patients.

Keywords: Aerobic exercise; exercise tolerance; fatigue; hemodialysis; resistance exercise.