Background: Recently, the number of older adult and high-risk renal transplant recipients has increased.
Their viability and survival can be improved by increase in physical activity through exercise
habit.
Purpose: To investigate factors associated with exercise habits during the maintenance phase of renal
transplantation and examine methods to acquire exercise habits.
Method: We investigated the exercise habits of patients who had been in the exercise group for more
than 180 days after renal transplantation. Overall, 34 participants were classified into two groups– 15
with exercise habit and 19 without. Subsequently, survey items including transplant renal function and
physical activity-related factors were compared. Reasons for not exercising in the no-exercise group
were surveyed using a questionnaire.
Results: The group with exercise habit had fewer women, shorter time since transplantation, higher
physical activity capacity in terms of CS-30 and 6 -minute walking distance, and greater physical activity
compared to the group without exercise habit. Furthermore, the participants in the group without
exercise habit reported that they did not exercise because of “lack of time,” “tired from work,” or “too
much trouble.”
Conclusion: Factors associated with exercise habits in the maintenance phase of renal transplantation
are sex, number of days since transplantation, physical activity capacity for standing and walking, and
amount of physical activity.
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