Although hospitals in Germany, Sweden and France have renal patients participating in the program as a standard practice, less than a handful of the 145 dialysis units in Australia have so far become involved.

Manning Hospital currently has 39 patients who have reached end stage kidney disease who require regular haemodialysis, and another 19 who are pre-dialysis.

Thirteen patients are receiving their haemodialysis at the hospital's satellite Nita Reed Centre at Chatham, and eight patients in the Acute Centre at the hospital itself. Others are home-dialysed.

Six of the patients at the Nita Reed centre and four at the hospital unit now form the small group undertaking a 12-week trial of the PEAK program ? Progressive Exercise for Anabolism in Kidney Disease.

It was developed in 2006 by Professor Singh in conjunction with the School of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Sydney.

Their research found that dialysis patients who took part in regular exercise three times a week were happier, stronger, less tired and more able to perform their daily tasks, which therefore improved their quality of life.

An added bonus was that the exercise also improved their glucose and blood pressure levels, which in many cases meant they needed fewer medications.

Since beginning a trial earlier this month, the Taree patients are reporting good results, both in enjoyment of the resistance/weights exercises themselves, and the physical benefits they are experiencing. Importantly, too, the patients report it helps to pass the time - a huge mental 'plus' for anyone hooked up to a dialysis machine for about five hours three days every week.

Manning Hospital has been fortunate in that it has a tireless band of Pink Ladies - its auxiliary members - who have channelled profits from the operation of the hospital kiosk and their other fundraisers, to buy the weights needed by the dialysis patients to begin the program.

Nursing staff at the two Taree units have also readily embraced the trial, offering encouragement, training and support for the participants in a highly professional and enjoyable way.