Introduction and purpose: Kidney transplant patients are exposed to the recurrence of kidney failure and subsequent complications, and drug and non-drug programs, including exercise, should be considered in these patients. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of aerobic exercise on physiological parameters and anxiety.
Methods: The present study was a review study in which 12 articles published in international and domestic journals were used between 2014 and 2023. In this study, the key words of exercise, kidney function, kidney health, kidney transplant and their English equivalents: Exercise, Renal function, Kidney health, Kidney transplant by searching the databases Google Scholar, PubMed, SID, ISC, OVID and Science Direct were used.
Results: Aerobic and anaerobic sports or a combination of both (aerobic and anaerobic) can be effective in improving kidney function. Aerobic exercises or a combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises have a greater effect on the renal function of kidney transplant patients than anaerobic exercise. Long-term exercise can improve the symptoms of kidney failure recurrence in kidney transplant patients. Short-term exercise for just a few hours temporarily improves kidney function.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that, in general, exercise improves kidney function in kidney transplant recipients. Designing a suitable exercise program as an effective intervention with the aim of influencing a specific outcome (improvement of kidney function) should be given more attention. It is suggested to conduct more studies in this field and to examine this issue in the form of systematic reviews.
Keywords: exercise, kidney function, kidneys, kidney health, kidney transplant