The influence of regular exercise training on kidney transplant recipients' health and fitness condition.

BACKGROUND

There is no data available explaining the correlation between the intensity of exercise training and kidney transplant recipients' health and fitness condition.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective study was performed using a questionnaire form. The questionnaire was filled out by members of the Polish department of the World Transplant Games Federation and the Polish Association of People on Dialysis and After Kidney Transplantation. 167 patients (Age: 36 ± 11 yrs, Males: 52%) were enrolled in the study.

RESULTS

Even two hours of exercise per week after the transplantation statistically significantly ameliorated the recipients' self-reported health (p = 0.007) and fitness condition (p < 0.0001). The amount of time devoted weekly to sports positively correlated with the patient's health and fitness condition (p = 0.00325 and p = 0.00123 respectively). People who did not exercise had higher BMI levels than those who practiced sports (25.8 ± 5.2 and 24 ± 3.99 respectively, p = 0.0003) but the weekly training time did not correlate with the BMI of kidney transplant recipients (r = -0.08, p = 0.275).

CONCLUSIONS

Regular physical activity did not deteriorate the graft's function in the examined patients. The results of this study bring us to the conclusion that physical activity can be recommended for all kidney transplant recipients that do not have other serious comorbidities which would restrain them from practicing sports.