Supervised aerobic training improves physical performance after Kidney Transplant

Supervised aerobic training and physical activity instruction initiated in the early phase after Kidney Transplant (KT) can improve physical performance without adversely affecting kidney function, a new study has stated. The study results have been published in June 2020 edition of "Journal of Renal Nutrition."

The authors performed a study noting that frailty is an important indicator of adverse outcomes in patients with a kidney transplant. In such a scenario, it becomes necessary to evaluate the outcomes of the efficacy of early exercise therapy after a kidney transplant.

With this background, Japenese researchers performed a study to investigate the effect of exercise intervention beginning early after KT on physical performance, physical activity, quality of life, and kidney function in patients with KT.

The study was a prospective cohort with 24 patients. There were 10 KT recipients who underwent surgery with usual care plus exercise training from a prospective cohort exercise group. There were 14 patients with usual care alone from a historical cohort (control group). The early exercise comprised supervised aerobic training and physical activity instruction from day 6 to 2 months after KT. The following outcomes were measured 6-minute walking distance, isometric knee extensor strength., gait speed, physical activity, quality of life and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

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From the study the authors found that using Analyses of covariance, adjusted for baseline values, there were

• Significant mean differences between exercise and control groups at 2 months after KT in 6-minute walking distance and isometric knee extensor strength.

• No significance between-group differences were found in gait speed, physical activity, and quality of life.

• The analysis of variance for comparison of the area under the recovery curves of estimated glomerular filtration rate after KT revealed no significant difference between groups.

The authors concluded that Supervised aerobic training and physical activity instruction initiated in the early phase after KT can improve physical performance without adversely affecting kidney function.

To read more about the study, please click the following link: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jrn.2019.11.005 

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