Exercise and Kidney Stones: What You Should Know

By Published On: October 23, 20246 min read
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Exercise and Kidney Stones: What You Should Know

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You must be well aware that being physically active or exercising regularly helps maintain a healthy weight and ensures that all your body organs function properly.

But, for someone with kidney stones, exercising is even more important!

There is no doubt that proper hydration and Ayurvedic products like Krishna’s Patharchatadi Swaras can help dissolve kidney stones, but adding exercise to your routine also plays a big role in keeping your kidneys healthy as well as preventing problems like stone formation.

Read on to learn how staying active can help reduce the risk of kidney stones and discover some of the best exercises for managing them.

Regular exercise is not just good for your heart and muscles—it’s also great for your kidneys!

Physical activity helps keep your system balanced, and that includes the kidneys. When you stay active, the blood flow to your kidneys is improved, which makes it easier for them to filter waste from your body.

In the case of kidney stones, where waste materials crystallize to form solid masses due to insufficiency of fluids in the body, and poor diet, exercise can be very effective.

So, in the first place, regular exercise lowers your chances of developing kidney stones, and if you are suffering from the condition, exercise can help in flushing it out of your body.

It doesn’t have to be high-intensity or vigorous exercises. Even a 30-minute walk, jogging, or a little cardio can work wonders. Because what matters is the amount of exercise and not the intensity!

How does exercise help with kidney stones?

Regular exercise keeps obesity, cholesterol, and high blood pressure in control, which can be a risk factor for kidney stones.

Exercising regularly also makes your bones healthy and absorbs more calcium present in the blood. This reduces the level of excess calcium in the blood and gets utilized where it should be.

When you exercise, you also tend to drink more water, this is very important in case of kidney stones as fluid helps in preventing as well as flushing out kidney stones.

Apart from exercises, include Ayurvedic products in your routine to naturally enhance your kidney function. Recommended products:

Consult an Ayurvedic practitioner to know the right dosage according to your condition.

4 Best Exercises For Kidney Stones

1. Yoga

This is the best exercise for kidney stones as yoga movements stretch and bend your entire body. This provides a good boost to the kidneys as well as your other vital internal organs to make them function at their optimum capacity.

Yoga also aids in reducing the symptoms associated with kidney stones, such as muscle cramps, back pain, nausea, and restlessness. Here are some most effective yoga poses that can help curb pain and dispose of the stones from your kidney.

  • Ustrasana (Camel Pose). This pose enhances overall body posture as well as strengthens and stretches your lower back and shoulders. The posture also aids in sending fresh oxygen to the kidneys, which eventually helps in detoxifying them.
  • Uttanpadasana (Leg-Up Pose). This is an excellent asana for your lower abdominal organs.  It strengthens the muscles in the lower back, legs, abdomen, and pelvic area. By helping the abdominal muscles contract, it improves the functioning of the pancreas, kidneys, and liver, while also alleviating pain associated with kidney stones.
  • Pawanmuktasana (Wind-Relieving Pose). This pose is highly beneficial for promoting digestive health. It effectively addresses gastric issues, alleviates constipation, and aids in the elimination of kidney stones. Additionally, the wind-relieving pose helps release trapped gas, reducing bloating and discomfort.

2. Cardiovascular exercises

Next on the list of the best exercises for kidney stones are cardiovascular exercises. These exercises make your overall body feel healthy and are good for your heart and lungs too. When your heart and lungs are working at their best, the functioning of your other body organs also improves indirectly.

In cardiovascular exercises, you can consider jogging, walking, cycling, and swimming. Just half an hour of mild daily cardiovascular exercise which is also easy on your joints can lift your whole mood and the function of your kidneys.

3. Resistance training

These exercises help with muscle strengthening and also provide benefits to the entire body. Muscle wasting is a common issue seen in kidney patients, and this can be addressed by including resistance exercises.

Resistance training does not mean we are asking you to do deadlifts or lift heavy weights. You can start with resistance bands and slowly switch to dumbbells with a weight according to your comfort or as your doctor suggests. And you don’t even have to do it daily, just 2-3 days of resistance workouts in a week are enough.

4. Pelvic exercises

Pelvic floor muscles play a very important role in the functioning and strength of the internal organs, including your bladder, uterus, and kidneys. If these muscles are weak, you may not be able to control your urine and bowel movements.

For a kidney stone patient, having a strong pelvic floor is very important, as it can help suppress urgency when it occurs and prevent urine leakage. Having a strong pelvic floor also ensures that your bladder empties completely. This reduces the risk of urinary stasis, where urine remains in the bladder, and increases the chance of stone formation.

Kegel exercises are the best pelvic exercises that you can perform daily to strengthen your pelvic floor. You can easily find a video on YouTube for reference

Helpful Tips For Exercising With Kidney Stones

Before starting any workout, ensure that you are well-hydrated. You may lose a lot of body fluids through sweating, and if you do not replenish your body with enough fluids or water, you can increase the chances of kidney stones.

Choose the right exercise intensity. Do not engage in vigorous exercises, as they can strain your abdomen and kidneys, worsening the symptoms. Instead, find a balance of cardiovascular, strength training, and yoga on some days of the week. Gradually, you can increase the intensity as instructed by your doctor or fitness trainer.

Pay attention to what your body is telling you during workouts. If you feel comfortable and experience no pain, it’s okay to continue exercising. However, if any exercises cause discomfort in your lower back or abdominal area, take note and avoid those movements. Generally, brisk walking or yoga can be beneficial and gentle options to consider.

Lastly, take care of your dietary choices. What you eat and how much you eat can significantly affect kidney stone formation. So, make sure your salt intake is low and avoid animal protein as much as you can. There are certain other foods to avoid if you have any specific type of kidney stone. Read about it here.

Conclusion

If you are diagnosed with small kidney stones, you may be able to pass it easily with the regular use of Patharchatadi Swaras, along with exercises and a healthy diet. For larger stones, or if your symptoms worsen, consult a doctor for immediate relief.

It is important to know the type of stones you have, and you must strictly follow the diet to include or exclude any foods that can boost the growth of kidney stones.