[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/03\/exercise-for-liver-disease-patients\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/03\/exercise-for-liver-disease-patients\/","headline":"Why Is Exercise Important for Liver Disease Patients?","name":"Why Is Exercise Important for Liver Disease Patients?","description":"Exercise helps people with liver disease by reducing frailty, improving strength, and helping prevent several conditions related to cirrhosis.","datePublished":"2022-03-24","dateModified":"2026-04-15","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/digestive-disorders-center\/services\/liver-diseases","name":"Center for Liver Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/digestive-disorders-center\/services\/liver-diseases","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/center-for-liver-diseases\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-528530675.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-528530675.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/03\/exercise-for-liver-disease-patients\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Transplant"],"wordCount":706,"articleBody":"Cirrhosis is a stage of liver disease. It means that your liver has heavy scarring from trying to repair itself. When the liver has so much scar tissue that it struggles to function, it\u2019s called decompensated cirrhosis.Exercise can\u2019t reverse the scarring on your liver, but it can help patients with liver disease get stronger and potentially avoid or delay complications of cirrhosis.What We Know About Exercise for Patients with CirrhosisFrailty is a person\u2019s ability to recover from illness and other health problems. Frailty can look different for each person, but it may include symptoms like unintended weight loss, reduced physical strength and stamina, and muscle weakness. Frailty is linked to ill health in general \u2014 and, more specifically, to falls. Falls can be especially dangerous for people with cirrhosis because these individuals don\u2019t heal as quickly. Exercise helps build strength, which reduces frailty and chance of injury.People with cirrhosis can also develop something called hepatic encephalopathy. This condition happens because the liver can no longer filter toxins in the blood, so they travel to the brain. People with hepatic encephalopathy can feel disoriented and confused, and they can also lose their balance easily.Exercise is beneficial in the fight against hepatic encephalopathy because it helps build skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle can help clear out blood ammonia \u2014 the substance mainly responsible for hepatic encephalopathy in advanced liver disease.Portal hypertension is high blood pressure in the veins that lead to the liver. It can cause cirrhosis to turn into decompensated cirrhosis. Portal hypertension can also cause bleeding, swelling in the abdomen (ascites), and hepatic encephalopathy. Exercise can help to lower blood pressure in the liver\u2019s portal vein.Patients with Liver Disease Should Start with WalkingMedical professionals, such as physical therapists, frequently prescribe exercise for people who are candidates for liver transplant to help them get strong enough for surgery. This is called prehabilitation. UPMC has special expertise in prehabilitation for liver transplant candidates.Walking is one of the best exercises you can do if you have liver disease. At UPMC, we have the frailest patients in our prehabilitative program aim for 1,000 steps a day and encourage them to work up to 2,500 to 3,000 or more steps per day.For less frail patients, we suggest at least 5,000 steps a day. And for those who are strong enough, we recommend getting at least 7,500 steps per day.But you\u2019re not limited to walking. Both aerobic and anaerobic exercises can help improve physical function and liver disease.In other words, you can add strength training or strength classes to your cardiovascular activity \u2014 as long as you are careful.UPMC prehabilitation experts can guide you through an exercise program tailored to your individual needs and medical condition.More Exercise Considerations for People with Liver DiseaseFor people with cirrhosis who want to begin an exercise program, there are two main considerations.First, start low and go slow.Cirrhosis greatly affects a person\u2019s capacity for exercise. For example, people who used to be able to run long distances may find they can only walk a few blocks before feeling fatigued. If they used to lift heavy weights, they may now only be able to lift a few pounds before their muscles give out.Cirrhosis can also affect your ability to build up strength and muscle mass. This is because liver disease weakens your body\u2019s ability to adapt to new challenges.Secondly, avoid lifting heavy weights. Patients with cirrhosis who lift heavy weights are more prone to exercise-related injuries. We recommend starting with weights as little as one to three pounds and suggest adding repetitions instead of adding weight. UPMC\u2019s prehabilitation experts and physical therapists can help you determine the right weights to start with based on your current strength level and medical concerns. They can also advise you how to avoid injuries as much as possible.Finally, it\u2019s critical for individuals with cirrhosis to be under the care of a liver specialist. The\u00a0UPMC Center for Liver Care\u00a0cares for people who have all stages of liver disease. To schedule an appointment, call 412-647-1170.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on March 24, 2022, and was last reviewed on April 15, 2026."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2022","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Why Is Exercise Important for Liver Disease Patients?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2022\/03\/exercise-for-liver-disease-patients\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]