Effectiveness of Tailored Telerehabilitation on Functional Capacity and Balance In Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Pilot Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Pediatric recipients after a successful kidney transplant (KT) are encouraged to return to normal life as they are in a growing phase and have physical inactivity during the dialysis period. However, chronic use of immunosuppression and physical inactivity negatively affects functional capacity and balance even after the surgery. Exercise training appears to be safe and promising in this population. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to explore the effects of tailored telerehabilitation on functional capacity and balance in pediatric patients with KT. Methodology: A total of 8 children with stable graft function with a minimum 1 year of transplantation, from one of the tertiary hospitals of western India, were randomly allocated into two groups via enveloped method: standard care (SC) and telerehabilitation group (TRG). The SC group received standard care with no change in their regular activities. TRG received tailored telerehabilitation as a playful activity for 45 minutes twice a week for six weeks. Outcome measures include 10 repetition maximum, a pediatric balance scale, and a six-minute walking test (6MWT) to assess muscle strength (quadriceps group), balance, and functional capacity respectively. Result: There were statistically significant improvements in the post-test 6MWT and muscle strength in TRG except for balance. The post-test comparison between the two groups revealed a significant difference in favor of TRG in all measured variables. Conclusion: Tailored Tele-rehabilitation contributed to the improvement of functional capacity and muscle strength in pediatric patients with kidney transplantation. KEY WORDS: kidney transplantation, physical activity, functional capacity, balance.