The effects of twelve weeks of supervised aerobic and resistance training on exercise capacity, muscle strength, quality of life, body composition and cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients

• Author / Creator

  Riess, Kenneth James

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTR). The increased CVD risk is due, in part, to reduced cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) associated with inactivity. The role of exercise training to improve overall physical fitness, quality of life (QOL) and CVD risk factors in KTR has not been well studied.
  
  The aim of this thesis is to investigate the effects of a 12 week supervised exercise training (ET) program versus usual care (UC) on VO2peak , muscular strength, QOL, body composition and CVD risk profile in KTR. Further, the mechanisms responsible for the increase in VO2peak will be determined.
  Thirty-seven KTR underwent baseline testing consisting of: incremental exercise test with expired gas analysis and impedance cardiography, resting small and large arterial compliance, lower extremity maximal strength, estimation of lean body mass, 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, QOL and a 10-year CVD risk score. Subjects were randomized to ET (aerobic exercise 30 – 60 minutes, 3 days/week and strength training 2 days/week) or UC.
  
  Thirty-one subjects (mean age; 55 ± 13 years) were randomized to ET (n=16) or UC (n=15). The changes in VO2peak (ET 2.6 ± 3.1 vs UC -0.5 ± 2.5 ml∙kg-1∙min -1), peak heart rate (ET 8 ± 14 vs UC – 2.9 ± 11.2 beat• min-1), peak cardiac output (ET 1.7 ± 2.6 vs UC –0.01 ± 0.8 L • min-1), leg press (ET 48.7 ± 34.1 vs UC -10.5 ± 37.7 kg) and leg extension strength (ET 9.5 ± 10.3 vs UC 0.65 ± 5.5 kg) were significantly greater after 12 weeks of ET compared to UC. The change in overall QOL improved significantly after 12 weeks of ET compared to UC. No significant difference was found between groups for 24 hour blood pressure, small and large arterial compliance, lean body mass or 10 year CVD risk score.
  The major finding of this thesis is that 12 weeks of supervised ET increased VO2peak secondary to an increase in peak heart rate and cardiac output. A secondary finding is that ET increased lower extremity maximal muscular strength and improved QOL compared to UC.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Exercise capacity
  • Aerobic training
  • Strength training
  • Kidney transplant

• Graduation date

  Fall 2011

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R32S59

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.