The aim was to assess the effects of exercise training on aerobic and fuctional capacity of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients completed an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine VO2 peak and VO2 at ventilatory threshold (VT; V-slope). On a separate day they performed two constant load exercise tests on a cycle ergometer at 90% of VT and at a workload of 33 W, to determine VO2 kinetics. Functional capacity was assessed using measurements of sit-to-stands (STS-5, STS-60) and a walk test. Dialysis patients were randomly allocated to an exercise (ET: n = 18, age = 57.3 years) or control (C: n = 15, age = 50.5 - 5 years) group. The ET group participated in an exercise training programme involving cycling for 3 months. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant time by group interactions (P < 0.05) following training for VO2 peak (ET: 17 +/- 6.1 versus 19.9 +/- 6-3, C: 19.5 +/- 4.7 versus 188 +/- 4.9 ml kg min(-1)) and VO2-VT (ET: 10.7 +/- 3.5 versus 11.8 +/- 3.3, C:12.9 +/- 3.2 versus 119 +/- 3.5 ml kg min(-10). VO2 kinetics remained unchanged in both groups at 90% -VT, but a trend (P = 0.059) towards faster kinetics at the 33 W was observed (ET: 49.6 +/- 19.5 versus 37.8 +/- 12.7, C: 42.8 +/- 13 versus 49.4 +/- 20.2 s). Significant time by group interactions (P < 0.05) were also observed for STS-5 (ET: 14.7 +/- 6.2 versus 11.0 +/- 3.3, C: 12.8 +/- 4.4 versus 12.7 +/- 4.8 s) and STS-60 measurements (ET: 21.2 + 7.2 versus 26.9 +/- 6.2, C: 23.7 +/- 6.8 versus 24.1 +/- 7.2). Three months of exercise rehabilitation significantly improves peak exercise capacity of patients with ESRD. Measurements of VO2 kinetics and functional capacity suggest that longer time might be needed to induce peripheral adaptations.