Objectives:  A purpose of this study was to investigate effects of home-based exercise program using a Thai–style braided rubber rope on blood pressure (BP), muscle strength and quality of life of (QOL) in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

Study design: A pretest-posttest design.

Setting: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University.

Methods: After training and receiving a Thai–style braided rubber rope together with a brochure and an instructional rubber rope exercise video, all participants were asked to perform home-based exercise 3 times per week for 12 weeks. BP, hand compression and leg and back muscle force were assessed, and SF-36 health survey questionnaire was completed prior to the study as baseline and during follow-up visits at the end of 4^th, 8^th and 12^th week of exercise.  The baseline and the follow-up data were compared and analyzed with one-way ANOVA.

Results: There were 6 males and 14 females. Mean age was 51.6 years (SD 11.8) and mean duration of CAPD was 21.5 months (SD 19.1). When  comparing  data  between  the  baseline  and  at  the  end  of  the 4th week, systolic and diastolic BP declined significantly (p < 0.05); hand, leg and back muscle strength increased; and the SF-36 scores of social  functioning,  bodily pain, emotional  role  functioning, and vitality, and the total score, increased significantly (p = 0.030, p = 0.009, p = 0.001, p = 0.000, p = 0.003, respectively).

Conclusion: After 4 weeks of home-based exercise with a Thai-style braided rubber rope, patients on CAPD had a decline in blood pressure, an increase in muscle strength, and a better quality of life especially vitality and emotion function