Virtually Supervised Exercise for Kidney Transplant Candidates

This study is examining if a virtually supervised exercise program can improve physical function in persons awaiting kidney transplant. A double-blind, parallel group randomized controlled clinical trial, this study will enroll 80 persons for 24 weeks. Our primary outcome is performance on the 30 second sit to stand test, and our secondary outcomes are changes in the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory.

Inclusion criteria

• ≥ 18 years old
• Listed for kidney transplant
• Positive answers (e.g. yes) to one of the following:

• current difficulty with climbing up 10 stairs,
• has changed in the past year how they climb 10 stairs
• current difficulty with walking a 0.5 mile (5-6 blocks)
• has changed in past year in how they walk 0.5 mile (5-6 blocks)
• documented performance of 430 meters or less on the six minute walk test in the past 12 months
• documented performance of 9 points or less on the Short Physical Performance Battery in the past 24 months
• documented performance of less than 3 points or less on the five times sit to stand test in the past 24 months
• Demonstrated ability to stand up independently from a seated position and then sit back down without using their arms or an assistive device in the past 24 months

Exclusion criteria

• Does not speak English or Spanish
• Nursing home resident
• Severe low vision (≥20/200 with corrective lens)
• Severe hearing loss even with use of amplification preventing communication
• Unstable angina or uncontrolled arrhythmia
• Supplemental oxygen therapy
• Myocardial infarction, major heart surgery, stroke, venous thromboembolism, hip fracture, hip or knee replacement in past six months (temporary exclusion)
• ≥ 3 errors on the Six Item Screener