Impact of physical exercise program home mild-moderate intensity on quality of life, strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility in Mexican adult kidney transplant patients

Abstract

Background: in Mexico, chronic kidney disease presents an exponential increase, kidney transplantation has become the best treatment option. Despite this, transplant recipients have lower functional capacity and quality of life compared to healthy individuals, which is associated with a sedentary lifestyle, added to the musculoskeletal effects of immunosuppressants. However, the research is limited. Purpose: to evaluate the impact of a home program of strength exercises, aerobic endurance, balance and flexibility of mild-moderate intensity in transplant patients. Methodology: 9 patients (29.5, 2 years) participated, manual grip strength was evaluated by means of a dynamometer, flexibility through the sit and reach test, agility-balance and strength in the lower limb by means of the “sit to stand” and the “get up and go” respectively, functional capacity through the 6-minute walk test, and quality of life through the SF36 health questionnaire. Results: Statistically significant improvements were shown in manual dynamometry (P 0.005), sit and reach test (P 0.016), Sit to stand test (P0.0011), 6-minute walk test (P 0.012). In the SF36 questionnaire, there was improvement in physical function (P0.03) and general health (P0.01), there were no changes in laboratory tests and glomerular filtration rate. Conclusions: a home program of combined mild-moderate intensity exercise seems to have a positive effect on the functional capacity and quality of life of kidney transplant recipients, however, more research is needed to evaluate adherence to the program.