Global guide highlights Leicester’s leadership in shaping practical exercise advice for people living with chronic kidney disease.
A team of researchers from the University of Leicester, Leicester Partnership for Kidney Health Research, Leicester Kidney Lifestyle Team, and the Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) have played a leading role in the creation of a new international guidebook that sets out how exercise can transform care for people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
“A Guidebook on Exercise in CKD”, published by the European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association (EDTNA/ERCA), brings together global expertise to provide the first comprehensive, practical resource dedicated to exercise across the full spectrum of CKD.
The book will be launched at the upcoming EDTNA/ERCA conference in Porto in October, and a practical workshop highlighting the core principles of the book will be available at UK Kidney Week 2026. It is published in partnership with the Global Renal Exercise Network (GREX).
The authors involved include:
- Dr Thomas Wilkinson, Leicester Diabetes Centre, University of Leicester
- Dr Courtney Lightfoot, University of Leicester
- Dr Michelle Hadjiconstantinou, Leicester Diabetes Centre, University of Leicester
- Dr Roseanne Billany, University of Leicester
- Dr Matthew Graham-Brown, University of Leicester
Together, they co-authored several chapters, covering topics such as exercise for people with CKD not on dialysis, exercise following kidney transplantation, the psychology of behaviour change, and digital exercise interventions. The guidebook spans the entire CKD pathway, from early-stage disease through dialysis to transplantation. Chapters address topics such as the impact of CKD and why exercise is critical to maintaining health and independence; assessment and prescription principles, providing clinicians with clear frameworks for safely tailoring exercise, and behavioural and digital approaches, highlighting how to support long-term activity through motivation, coaching, and technology. The book highlights the ‘My Kidneys & Me’ digital health programme developed in Leicester, and based on the MyDesmond platform.
Editors, and long-time collaborators, Dr Pedro Martins and Professor João Viana (Portugal) described it as a “call to action” for exercise to become a standard part of kidney care. Dr Thomas Wilkinson, who co-authored the chapter on exercise for people with CKD not on dialysis, said:
“We know from our research in Leicester and beyond that exercise has the power to improve quality of life, physical function and even survival in people with CKD. This guidebook makes that evidence accessible, practical and implementable for clinicians everywhere.”
Over the last 15 years, the Leicester team has contributed pioneering research into physical activity in kidney disease, with studies ranging from exercise physiology and digital health to patient-centred behaviour change. Their involvement in this project reflects Leicester’s role as a global hub for kidney and lifestyle research. By bringing together international expertise and practical strategies, the guidebook aims to empower healthcare teams to embed physical activity into routine kidney care. It is freely available online and will serve as a reference point for clinicians, researchers, and patients worldwide.