To help researchers begin reviewing the literature, we have compiled a list of peer-reviewed publications related to sports exercise and health for transplant recipients below.
Please follow the links to other initiatives to stay up to date with the latest research and conversations.
Useful links and resources:
Physiology and Biomedical Science
Janaudis-Ferreira, T., Tansey, C.M., Mathur, S., Blydt-Hansen, T., Lamoureaux, J., Räkel, A., de Sousa Maia, N.P., Bussières, A., Ahmed, S., Boruff, J., 2021. The effects of exercise training in adult solid organ transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Transpl. Int. 34, 801–824.
Calella, P., Hernández-Sánchez, S., Garofalo, C., Ruiz, J.R., Carrero, J.J., Bellizzi, V., 2019. Exercise training in kidney transplant recipients: a systematic review. J. Nephrol. 32, 567–579.
Oguchi, H., Tsujita, M., Yazawa, M., Kawaguchi, T., Hoshino, J., Kohzuki, M., … Sofue, T. (2019). The efficacy of exercise training in kidney transplant recipients: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Clinical and Experimental Nephrology, 23(2), 275–284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-018-1633-8
Anderson, L., Nguyen, T. T., Dall, C. H., Burgess, L., Bridges, C., & Taylor, R. S. (2017). Exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation in heart transplant recipients. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4).
Cho, W., Kim, H., Park, U., Park, W., Yu, J., Yoon, I., Kim, S. & Ahn, C. (2017). Rehabilitation of Transplantee and Transplant Games. Journal for the Korean Society of Transplantation. 6–15.
Neale, J., Smith, A.C., Bishop, N.C., 2017. Effects of Exercise and Sport in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Review. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 96, 273—288.
Zelle, D.M., Klaassen, G., van Adrichem, E., Bakker, S.J.L., Corpeleijn, E., Navis, G., 2017. Physical inactivity: a risk factor and target for intervention in renal care. Nat. Rev. Nephrol. 13, 152.
Wickerson, L., Rozenberg, D., Janaudis-Ferreira, T., Deliva, R., Lo, V., Beauchamp, G., Helm, D., Gottesman, C., Mendes, P., Vieira, L., Herridge, M., Singer, L.G., Mathur, S., 2016. Physical rehabilitation for lung transplant candidates and recipients: An evidence-informed clinical approach. World J. Transplant. 6, 517.
Wolf, M.F., George, R.P., Warshaw, B., Wang, E., Greenbaum, L.A., 2016. Physical Activity and Kidney Injury in Pediatric and Young Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients. J. Pediatr. 179, 90-95.e2.
McKenzie, K.J.L., McKenzie, D.C., Yoshida, E.M., 2015. Solid organ transplant recipients: clinical considerations in the application of exercise. Br. J. Sports Med. 49, 76–78.
Bellizzi, V., Cupisti, A., Capitanini, A., Calella, P. & D’Alessandro, C. (2014). Physical activity and renal transplantation. Kidney and Blood Pressure Research, 39(2–3), 212–219. http://doi.org/10.1159/000355799
Mosconi, G., Cuna, V., Tonioli, M., Totti, V., Roi, G. S., Sarto, P., … Costa, A. N. (2014). Physical activity in solid organ transplant recipients: Preliminary results of the Italian project. Kidney and Blood Pressure Research, 39, 220–227. http://doi.org/10.1159/000355800
Didsbury M., McGee, R.G., Tong, A., Craig, J.C., Chapman, J.R., Chadban, S., et al. (2013). Exercise training in solid organ transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Transplantation, 95, 679– 687. doi: 10.1097/TP.0b013e31827a3d3e PMID: 23364480 16.
Rosas, S. E., Reese, P. P., Huan, Y., Doria, C., Cochetti, P. T., & Doyle, A. (2012). Pretransplant physical activity predicts all-cause mortality in kidney transplant recipients. American journal of nephrology, 35(1), 17-23.
Stolk, R.P., de Greef, M.H.G., Navis, G., Gans, R.O.B., Zelle, D.M., van der Heide, J.J.H., Corpeleijn, E., Bakker, S.J.L., 2011. Low Physical Activity and Risk of Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality in Renal Transplant Recipients. Clin. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 6, 898–905.
Pupka, A., Płonek, T., Lewicki, K., Maroszyk, J., 2008. Influence of Physical Activity on the Health Condition of People After Organ Transplantation. Med. Sport. 12, 142–145.
Krasnoff, J.B., Mathias, R., Rosenthal, P., Painter, P.L., 2006. The comprehensive assessment of physical fitness in children following kidney and liver transplantation. Transplantation 82, 211–217.
Painter, P., 2005. Exercise following organ transplantation: A critical part of the routine post transplant care. Ann. Transplant.
Svoboda, L., 2004. Czech exercise program for dialysis and transplant patients, 10 years experience. Clin. Nephrol. 61 Suppl 1, S6—9.
Pesce de Souza, F., Massierer, D., Anand Raje, U., Tansey, C.M., Boruff, J., Janaudis-Ferreira, T., 2020. Exercise interventions in solid organ transplant candidates: A systematic review. Clin. Transplant. 34, 1–25.
Kjaer, M., Beyer, N. & Secher, N.H. (1999). Exercise and organ transplantation. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 1, 1-14.
Psychology and Social Science
D’Ambrosio, A., Toulouse, C., Bélanger-Marceau, S., Savary, S., Mathur, S., Segatto, B., Hartell, D., Janaudis-Ferreira, T., 2021. Characteristics and Motivation of Solid Organ Transplant Recipients Attending the Canadian Transplant Games. Transplant. Proc. 53, 581–589.
Wiltshire, G., Clarke, N. J., Phoenix, C., & Bescoby, C. (2021). Organ transplant recipients’ experiences of physical activity: Health, self-care, and transliminality. Qualitative Health Research, 31(2), 385-398
Wiltshire, G., Clarke, N. J., Phoenix, C., & Bescoby, C. (2020). The role of sport-based social networks in the management of long-term health conditions: Insights from the World Transplant Games. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 1012690220979202.
Gustaw, T., Schoo, E., Barbalinardo, C., Rodrigues, N., Zameni, Y., Motta, V.N., Mathur, S., Janaudis-Ferreira, T., 2017. Physical activity in solid organ transplant recipients: Participation, predictors, barriers, and facilitators. Clin. Transplant. 31, 1–9.
van Adrichem, E. J., van de Zande, S. C., Dekker, R., Verschuuren, E. A. M., Dijkstra, P. U. & van der Schans, C. P. (2016). Perceived barriers to and facilitators of physical activity in recipients of solid organ transplantation, a qualitative study. Plos One, 11(9), e0162725. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162725
Cicognani, E., Mazzoni, D., Totti, V., Sergio, G., Mosconi, G. & Costa, A. N. (2015). Health-related quality of life after solid organ transplantation : the role of sport activity. Psychology Health and Medicine, 8506(January 2015), 37–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2014.993404
Deliva, R.D., Patterson, C., So, S., Pellow, V., Miske, S., McLister, C., Manlhiot, C., Pollock-BarZiv, S., Drabble, A. & Dipchand, A.I. (2014). The World Transplant Games: An incentive to improve physical fitness and habitual activity in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients. Pediatric Transplantation, 18, 889–895.
Mazzoni, D., Cicognani, E., Mosconi, G., Totti, V., Roi, G. S., Trerotola, M. & Nanni Costa, A. (2014). Sport activity and health-related quality of life after kidney transplantation. Transplantation Proceedings, 46(7), 2231–2234. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2014.07.049
Johnson, U., Hinic, H., Billström, A. & Gäbel, H. (2013). Transplant Recipients’ Experience of Participation at the World Transplant Games in Gothenburg 2011: A Study of Psychological Wellbeing. The Open Transplantation Journal, 7, 1–9.
Segatto, B. L., Sabiston, C. M., Harvey, W. J., & Bloom, G. A. (2013). Exploring relationships among distress, psychological growth, motivation, and physical activity among transplant recipients. Disability and Rehabilitation, 35(24), 2097-2103.
Totti, V., Zancanaro, M., Trerotola, M., Nanni Costa, A., Antonetti, T., Anedda, A., Roi, G.S., 2013. Quality of life and energy expenditure in transplant recipient football players. Transplant. Proc. 45, 2758–2760.
Mannocci, A., Unim, B., Del Cimmuto, A., Turchetta, F., Gatto, G., Santoro, R., Ettorre, G.M., Boccia, A., La Torre, G., 2012. Quality of life and physical activity in liver transplantation patients: results of a case-control study in Italy. Transplant. Proc. 44, 1346–1350.
Rongies, W., Stepniewska, S., Lewandowska, M., Smolis-Bak, E., Dolecki, W., Sierdzinski, J., Trzepla, E., Cholewinska, G., Stankiewicz, W., 2011. Physical activity long-term after liver transplantation yields better quality of life. Ann. Transplant. 16, 126—131.
Gordon, E.J., Prohaska, T.R., Gallant, M., Siminoff, L.A., 2009. Self-care strategies and barriers among kidney transplant recipients: A qualitative study. Chronic Illn. 5, 75–91.
Wray, J. & Lunnon-Wood, T. (2008). Psychological benefits for children and adolescents who have undergone transplantation of the heart from participation in the British Transplant Games. Cardiology in the Young, 18(2), 185–188. http://doi.org/10.1017/S1047951108002047
Sánchez, Z.V., Cashion, A.K., Cowan, P.A., Jacob, S.R., Wicks, M.N. & Velasquez-Mieyer, P. (2007). Perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity in kidney transplant recipients. Progress in Transplantation, 17, 324–331. PMID: 18240699
Painter, P., Krasnoff, J. & Paul, S.M. (2001). Physical activity and health-related quality of life in liver transplant recipients. Liver Transplantation, 7, 213–219.
Slapak, M. (2005). Sport for the transplant athlete – Just harmless fun or valuable tool. Annals of Transplantation, 10(4), 24–28.
Krasnoff, J.; Painter, P. FACSM; Stewart, A.; Myll, J., 1999. Health-related quality of life in long term liver transplant recipients: effect of physical activity. Med. Sci. Sport. Exerc. 31.
Griffin, P., 1998. Exercise and sport after organ transplantation. Br. J. Sports Med. 32, 194–194
Slapak, M., Taylor, R., Parrott, N., Griffin, P., 1997. Do the Transplant Games Help Organ Donation? Transplant. Proc. 29, 1479–1480.
McGee, H.M. & Horgan, J.H. (1996). Participation in the Cardiac Transplant Games: Impact on health-related quality of life. British Journal of Health Psychology, 1, 245–252.
Griffin, P., 1990. From the Games. Br. J. Sports Med. 24, 130–131.
Behavioural Science and Exercise Recommendations
Janaudis-Ferreira, T., Mathur, S., Tansey, C.M., Blydt-Hansen, T., Hartell, D., 2020. Disseminating Knowledge to Providers on Exercise Training After Solid Organ Transplantation. Prog. Transplant. 30, 125–131.
Berben, L., Engberg, S. J., Rossmeissl, A., Gordon, E. J., Kugler, C., Schmidt-Trucksäss, A., … & De Geest, S. M. (2019). Correlates and outcomes of low physical activity posttransplant: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transplantation, 103(4), 679-688.
Bittermann, T. (2019). Physical Activity after Solid Organ Transplantation: Comprehensive Guidance Is Needed to Advance Future Research Efforts. Transplantation, 103(4), 666–667. https://doi.org/10.1097/TP.0000000000002544
Takahashi, A., Hu, S.L., Bostom, A., 2018. Physical activity in kidney transplant recipients: a review. Am. J. Kidney Dis. 72, 433–443.
Atamañuk, A.N., Ortiz Fragola, J.P., Casonu, M., Lirio, C., Graziano, V., & Cicora, F. (2017). Physical Activity Among Organ Recipients: Data Collected From the Latin American Transplant Games. Transplant Proceedings, 49, 354–357.
O’Brien, T. & Hathaway, D. (2016). An integrative literature review of physical activity recommendations for adult renal transplant recipients. Progress in Transplantation, 26(4), 381–385. http://doi.org/10.1177/1526924816664079
Kotarska, K., Wunsch, E., Raszeja-Wyszomirska, J., Kempińska-Podhorodecka, A., Wójcicki, M., Milkiewicz, P., 2015. Leisure time physical activity and health-related behaviours after liver transplantation: A prospective, single-centre study. Prz. Gastroenterol. 10, 100–104.
Dontje, M.L., de Greef, M.H., Krijnen, W.P., Corpeleijn, E., Kok, T., Bakker, S.J., et al. (2014) Longitudinal measurement of physical activity following kidney transplantation. Clinical Transplant, 28, 394–402. doi:10.1111/ctr.12325 PMID: 24635476 15.
Mathur, S., Janaudis-Ferreira, T., Wickerson, L., Singer, L. G., Patcai, J., Rozenberg, D., … Sonnenday, C. (2014). Meeting report: Consensus recommendations for a research agenda in exercise in solid organ transplantation. American Journal of Transplantation, 14(10), 2235–2245. http://doi.org/10.1111/ajt.12874
Clark, C. G., Cantell, M., Crawford, S., & Hamiwka, L. A. (2012). Accelerometry-based physical activity and exercise capacity in pediatric kidney transplant patients. Pediatric Nephrology, 27(4), 659-665.
Gosselink, R., Ivanova, A., Verleden, G., Decramer, M., Troosters, T., Burtin, C., Schepers, L., Langer, D., 2012. Exercise Training After Lung Transplantation Improves Participation in Daily Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am. J. Transplant. 12, 1584–1592.
Langer, D., Burtin, C., Schepers, L., Ivanova, A., Verleden, G., Decramer, M., … & Gosselink, R. (2012). Exercise training after lung transplantation improves participation in daily activity: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Transplantation, 12(6), 1584-1592.
Langer, D., Cebrià I Iranzo, M.A., Burtin, C., Verleden, S.E., Vanaudenaerde, B.M., Troosters, T., Decramer, M., Verleden, G.M., Gosselink, R., 2012. Determinants of physical activity in daily life in candidates for lung transplantation. Respir. Med. 106, 747–754.
Evangelista, L.S., Dracup, K., Doering, L., Moser, D.K., Kobashigawa, J., 2005. Physical Activity Patterns in Heart Transplant Women. J. Cardiovasc. Nurs. 20.
Gordon, E.J., Prohaska, T., Siminoff, L.A., Minich, P.J., Sehgal, A.R., 2005. Needed: Tailored exercise regimens for kidney transplant recipients. Am. J. Kidney Dis. 45, 769–774.
Griffin, P. (1998). Exercise and sport after organ transplantation. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 32(3), 194–194. http://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.32.3.194