title: The World Transplant Games: an incentive to improve physical fitness and habitual activity in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients.
abstract: This prospective, interventional study examined the impact of training for the WTG on levels of health-related physical fitness and habitual activity in a cohort of pediatric SOT recipients. Physical fitness (FitnessGram(®) ) and habitual activity (HAES) measures were performed on participants (n = 19) in the WTG and compared to non-participant controls (n = 14) prior to and following the WTG. Pre-WTG exercise training was provided to participants. Participants demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in their habitual weekday (6.1 ± 1.7 to 8.5 ± 1.9 h; p = 0.002) and weekend (6.3 ± 2.6 to 8.4 ± 2.5 h; p = 0.01) activity over the training period, while controls improved weekday activity only (6.3 ± 2.0 to 8.3 ± 2.1 h; p = 0.05. Weekend activity: 7.7 ± 2.7 to 8.3 ± 2.3 h; p = 0.68). Participants demonstrated a non-statistical improvement in select physical fitness parameters; however, a greater number of participants achieved healthy criterion standards for cardiovascular fitness (2 vs. 1), abdominal strength (5 vs. 3), and upper body strength (7 vs. 3) following training and participating in the WTG. The WTG can provide a positive incentive for greater levels of physical activity and promote improvements in physical fitness levels. Further study is needed to examine long-term impact on lifestyle changes and health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; SickKids Transplant Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Robin D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Deliva
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pellow
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miske
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McLister
authors.forename: Cedric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manlhiot
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pollock-BarZiv
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drabble
authors.forename: Anne I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Dipchand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000523:psychology
keywords: exercise; pediatric; physical fitness; transplant