Home-based exercise to boost fitness for people waiting for a kidney transplant
Official title: KINETIC -- Kidney Transplant Improvement Through New Exercise Training to Increase Capacity
Run by University of Pennsylvania · NCT07446296 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether a 12-week, home-based exercise program plus a wearable activity tracker helps adults on the kidney transplant waiting list increase daily activity and improve physical function.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 60 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Pennsylvania Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 24, 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 2028 |
| Study ends | May 2028 |
| Registry record updated | May 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07446296 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults age 60 or older who receive transplant care at Penn Medicine, are on the kidney transplant waiting list, can walk, speak English, have at least one physical function limitation or frailty metric, have an internet-capable device, and are cleared for exercise are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who recently had a heart attack or stroke, are not cleared to exercise, are unable to self-monitor or use the required devices, or do not receive care at Penn Medicine may not be appropriate or likely to benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
KINETIC is a randomized, parallel-group trial that compares usual pre-transplant care with a wearable activity tracker versus usual care plus a 12-week online, home-based exercise prehabilitation program. Participants complete a one-week baseline monitoring period, wear a wrist activity tracker, and are remotely supported through the exercise platform. Key outcomes include feasibility of remote delivery, participant adherence to the program and device use, safety and tolerability, and changes in physical activity and functional measures. The study enrolls older adults awaiting kidney transplant at Penn Medicine who are able to walk and are cleared to participate in light-to-moderate exercise.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase pre-transplant physical activity and function, potentially leading to shorter hospital stays and faster recovery after transplant.
How similar studies have gone: Some prehabilitation programs in other surgical populations have shown benefits, but remote, home-based prehabilitation specifically for kidney transplant candidates remains largely untested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * be at least 60 years old * receive transplant care at Penn Medicine * be on the kidney transplant waiting list * speak and comprehend English * be able to walk * have at least one physical function limitation OR at least one frailty metric * have access to a device capable of connecting to the Internet and downloading an application * be able to provide written informed consent * be cleared for participant via the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ) verified against medical record or via written medical clearance from a clinician Exclusion Criteria: * Have had a myocardial infarction or a stroke in the 3 months immediately prior to enrollment * Be unable to self-monitor with study devices (i.e., have a condition such as dementia) * Not cleared by PARQ or receive written medical clearance to exercise * Participate in another physical activity study * Have any other reason they do not expect to be able to complete the study
Where it's running
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Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sarah Schrauben, MD, MSCE — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Sarah Schrauben, MD, MSCE
- Email: sarahsch@upenn.edu
- Phone: 2156628730
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.