title: Physical activity in solid organ transplant recipients: preliminary results of the Italian project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of physical activity in transplanted patients is often underestimated. We discuss the Italian National Transplant Centre experience, which started in 2008 studying transplanted patients involved in sports activities. The study was then developed through a model of cooperation between surgeons, sports physicians and exercise specialists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicentre study was realized in 120 transplanted patients of which 60 treated with supervised physical activity (three sessions/week of aerobic and strengthening exercises) and 60 controls. We present the results of the first 26 patients (16 males, 10 females; 47.8 ± 10.0 years; 21 kidney, 5 liver transplanted; time from transplant 2.3 ± 1.4 years) who completed 12 months of supervised physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data showed an increase of peak aerobic power (t=4.535; P<0.01) and maximum workload (t=4.665; P<0.01) in the incremental cycling test. Maximum strength of knee extensors (t=2.933; P<0.05) and elbow flexors (t=2.450; P<0.05), and the power of lower limb (t=2.303; P<0.05) significantly increases. Health Related Quality of Life showed a significant improvement. Serum creatinine (1.4 ± 0.5 vs 1.3 ± 0.4 mg/dL) and proteinuria (0.10 ± 0.14 vs 0.08 ± 0.08 gr/dL) were stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results confirm the positive effects of supervised physical exercise. It can be considered as an input to promote other detailed exercise protocols.
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mosconi
authors.forename: Vania
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cuna
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tonioli
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Totti
authors.forename: Giulio S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Roi
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarto
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stefoni
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trerotola
authors.forename: Alessandro Nanni
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055070:Resistance Training; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D055815:Young Adult