A new study, published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, studies the relationship between walking and life expectancy in patients with advanced stage of chronic kidney disease. For these patients, walking is a popular form of exercise and, according to this study, reduces overall mortality and use of renal replacement therapy.

According to Remedy Health Media, renal replacement therapy encompasses all of the measures used for poorly functioning kidneys. This includes dialysis and kidney transplants. Due to the trauma, side effects, and risk associated with these treatments, it is preferable for the patients to self-manage or, at least, delay the need for such procedures.

In an analysis of the study, Medical News Today points out that, patients who walked for exercise were 21 percent less likely to need dialysis or a kidney transplant and 33 percent less likely to die, compared with patients who did not engage in this physical activity. Even walking for 30 minutes once per week is beneficial, with increasing benefits for additional walks per week. The range is 19 percent reduction in need for renal replacement therapy for one walk per week, up to 44 percent reduction for walking every day.

For the 26 million adults in the U.S. suffering from chronic kidney disease, this could be a promising means of putting their health back in their own hands. According to the National Kidney Foundation, chronic kidney disease is a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time. Two-thirds of the cases are caused by diabetes and high blood pressure. Overall health and wellness, including exercises such as walking, can manage chronic kidney disease and underlying conditions.