An Integrative Literature Review of Physical Activity Recommendations for Adult Renal Transplant Recipients.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the current state of knowledge regarding physical activity interventions for adult kidney transplant recipients.

DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive literature search was conducted for the years 2009 to 2015 using 5 electronic databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Ovid, and ScienceDirect.

DATA EXTRACTION: Of the 110 articles identified, only 6 met inclusion requirements. These studies were conducted between 2009 and 2015 and found that weight gain was reported most often within the first year of transplantation and that kidney transplant recipients desired early interventions to help them become more physically active.

CONCLUSION: Further research is recommended to design age-appropriate physical activity interventions among this aging population living with a chronic condition known to have a high prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular disease.