Published online Dec 18, 2024. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v14.i4.96244
Revised: June 3, 2024
Accepted: June 25, 2024
Published online: December 18, 2024
Processing time: 142 Days and 21.5 Hours
Although the benefits of exercise for kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) have been widely demonstrated, these patients experience several barriers in undertaking a structured exercise program in hospital and non-hospital facilities.
To compare the effects of a supervised moderate-intensity gym-based intervention with a home-based low-intensity walking program on exercise capacity in KTRs.
KTRs were asked to choose between two six-month programs. The first group performed a low-intensity interval walking intervention at home-based exercise intervention (HBex). The second group performed a supervised training program at an adapted physical activity gym (Sgym), including aerobic and resistance training. The outcomes, collected at baseline and at the end of the programs, included the 6-minute walking test, the peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) during a treadmill test, the 5-time sit-to-stand test, and blood pressure.
Seventeen patients agreed to participate and self-selected into the HBex (n = 9) and Sgym (n = 8) groups. Two patients in the Sgym group dropped out because of familial problems. At baseline, patients in the HBex group were significantly older and had lower walking distance, VO2peak, and lower limb strength. Primary outcome changes were significantly greater in the HBex group than in the Sgym group (52 ± 23 m vs 8 ± 34; P = 0.005). No other significant differences between groups were observed. Both groups improved most of the outcomes in the within-group comparisons, with significant variations in VO2 peak.
Six-month moderate-intensity supervised or low-intensity home-based training programs effectively improved exercise capacity in KTRs. Gym-based programs combine aerobic and resistance training; however, in-home walking may be proposed for frail KTRs.
Core Tip: This nonrandomized pragmatic pilot study highlights the significance of implementing structured exercise programs in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). This study, for the first time, provided the possibility of choosing the preferred training strategy for patients. This fact led to high adherence to the programs and superimposable results in terms of exercise capacity. Home-based low-intensity programs may be a useful option for more deconditioned KTRs.