Taiwanese researchers discovered that walking might prolong the lives of kidney disease patients and reduce their chance of needing dialysis. Although a minimal amount of walking -- such as a 30-minute stroll once a week -- may be helpful, longer and more frequent walks appear to be more beneficial.

Researchers tracked 6,300 Taiwanese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) for about 1.3 years. Patients who walked reduced their risk of dying by a third and were 21 percent less likely to require dialysis or a kidney transplant when compared to those who did not walk. The study was published online in the <em>Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.</em>