Impact of a physical activity program for psychophysical well-being in the dialysed and transplanted patient: a pilot study


https://doi.org/10.4081/wpph.2025.10156

Authors

  • Tatiana Bolgeo Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Roberta Di Matteo
    rdimatteo@ospedale.al.it
    Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8249-8284
  • Menada Gardalini Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Antonella Giolito Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Tiziana Barocelli Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Serena Torti Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Antonio Maconi Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Marco Quaglia Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a worldwide health problem. This study evaluated the effects of Nordic Walking on health and quality of life in patients with CKD.

Materials and Methods: single-centre, non-pharmacological, single-arm pilot study in 15 patients undergoing haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or kidney transplantation. The intervention consisted of 22 Nordic Walking sessions over two and a half months. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included blood pressure, oxygen saturation, bioimpedance analysis, and quality of life. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon's T-test, with significance p<0.05.

Results: improvements were observed in blood pressure (137.5±19.6 mmHg at T0 vs 130.8±16.3 mmHg at T1, p=0.03), SpO2 (98.5±0.6% vs 99.1±0.3%, p=0.02) and HDL cholesterol (48.8±11.1 mg/dL vs 54.9±19.6 mg/dL, p=0.05). Lean mass increased (73.7±8.9% to 76.1±9.8%, p=0.04) while fat mass decreased (26.3± .9% to 23.9±9.8%, p=0.04). Quality of life scores improved significantly (76.6±14.4 at T0 vs 87.8±6.9 at T1, p=0.01).

Conclusions: Nordic Walking improved cardiovascular health and quality of life in people with CKD. More research is needed to confirm these findings.