*Purpose: To assess the practice patterns of the timeline for safely resuming various physical activities after pediatric kidney transplant.

*Methods: An anonymous web-based survey was distributed via email to members of the Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium. Questions included 55 different activities grouped in order of increasing intensity. Respondents had to select a time-period post kidney transplant when the patient could safely start participating in each of the activities (Table).

*Results: Results of 73 respondents from 34 centers were analyzed. 68 (93%) were practicing pediatric nephrologists and 5 (7%) were transplant coordinators. 58 (79%) had > 5 years experience of caring of children with kidney transplant. Walking (90%) and climbing stairs (70%) were approved activity in the first post transplant month. The activities reported to be safe starting 1-3 months post transplant period were: going to school (71%), jogging (69%), attend social gatherings (64%), hiking (59%), visit movie theaters (53%), swimming (53%), golf (53%) and bicycle riding (52%), For 33 other activities, a clear majority (more than 50%) was not reported in any of the timeline categories. 68% reported that tackle or competitive football was never safe, whereas 73% reported boxing to be an unsafe sport for renal transplant patients. According to 63 (86%) respondents, the primary concern for limiting a particular physical activity was trauma to the allograft. 53 (73%) recommended use of a kidney guard during activities or sports with increased risk of trauma. 42 (57.5%) responded that presence of urinary stoma does not change their recommendation.

*Conclusions: There is lack of consensus on the timeline for safely resuming physical activities after a renal transplant and practice patterns differ based on comfort level of the clinician. Further studies are required to establish clinical practice guidelines.

« Back to 2019 American Transplant Congress