Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects around 10% of the UK population – approximately 7 million people – and is commonly associated with muscle loss, frailty, fatigue and reduced quality of life.
Despite strong evidence that exercise, physical activity and healthy lifestyle behaviours improve outcomes, kidney-specific rehabilitation and supported self-management have historically been inconsistently embedded in routine care. This has limited patient empowerment, contributed to avoidable functional decline, and increased long-term pressure on NHS services.
Building on internationally recognised strengths in epidemiology, exercise science, metabolic research and digital health, Leicester has generated and translated robust evidence demonstrating how physical activity, rehabilitation and behaviour change interventions can improve outcomes for people with CKD.
Crucially, by focusing on the training and upskilling of healthcare professionals, this work has driven demonstrable changes in UK policy, clinical practice and service delivery.
This includes the development of the first NICE-accredited UK Kidney Association (UKKA) exercise and lifestyle clinical practice guidelines, shaping national standards of care. Leicester researchers also informed the NHS England Renal Service Transformation Programme, embedding routine assessment of physical function and the inclusion of rehabilitation within kidney care pathways.
Direct patient benefit has been achieved through the development and evaluation of My Kidneys & Me, a web-based self-management programme for people with mild to moderate CKD. A national trial involving 420 patients across 26 hospitals in England saw positive impacts on patient activation and self-management capability.
Leicester has also developed Kidney Beam, the world’s first kidney-specific online exercise and education platform, co-produced with leading clinicians, charities and research organisations, including the National Kidney Federation, UKKA, Kidney Research UK and Kidney Care UK.
More than 19,000 classes have been delivered nationwide, with randomised trials showing improvements in quality of life, physical function and cost-effectiveness. Economic analyses indicate up to a 98% probability of cost-effectiveness at £20,000 – £30,000 per quality-adjusted life year gained.
Together, this programme of work has improved patient empowerment, strengthened workforce capability, and reshaped kidney care towards prevention, rehabilitation and living well with long-term conditions, supporting the sickness to prevention shift detailed in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England.
- Leicester researchers were pivotal to the publication of the first ever UKKA exercise and lifestyle clinical practice guidelines (NICE accredited): Exercise and Lifestyle in CKD clinical practice guideline33_v4_FINAL_0.pdf
- Dr Wilkinson has written the exercise and lifestyle section for the new UKKA Kidney Transplantation clinical practice guidelines, due to be published in 2026.
- Leicester was key to the development of the living well and rehabilitation component of the NHS England Renal Service Transformation Programme (RSTP). This work included ensuring that kidney care plans include physical rehabilitation, as well as the routine assessment of physical function: LINK
- Contributors to the first ever international white paper on kidney exercise care policy: LINK
- Leicester researchers contributed to the development of GREX’s (Dr Wilkinson is an organising committee member and UK representative) free online course for healthcare professionals to further their understanding of physical activity and exercise in CKD. As part of this, researchers have run workshops at national and international conferences, including UK Kidney Week 2026. LINK
- The results of a clinical trial into My Kidneys & Me were published in NPJ Digital Medicine: LINK
- Kidney Beam’s impact has been strongly evidenced, including a publication in The Lancet Digital Health: LINK