The purpose of this study was to explore the changes of muscle strength and activities of daily living(ADL) by steroid medication following the renal transplantation.
The subjects for this study were 25 patients. Their average age was 38.6 years and their average dialysis duration was 20months. Muscle strength-grip strength, flexor and extensor strength of hip and knee joint, flexor and inversor strength of ankle joint-and ADL were measured on 2 days prior to and on 12,16weeks following the renal transplantation. Grip strength was determined by hand dynamometer(Lafayette Instrument, USA), and flexor and extensor muscle strength of hip and knee joint, flexor and inversor muscle strength of ankle joint were measured by Nicholas manual muscle tester (Lafayette Instrument, USA). The data were analyzed by percentages, mean, standard deviation, repeated measure MANOVA and multiple regression analysis using the SPSSWIN program.
The results were summarized as follows:
1. Mean steroid dose following the renal transplantation was loading dose(240mg/day) during the first week and was decreased to the maintenance dose(29.7-13.3mg/day) from the 4th week to the 16th week after the renal transplantation.
2. Knee extensor muscle strength decreased significantly at 12weeks following the renal transplantation by steroid medication. No signifcant changes were observed in muscle strength except knee extensor muscle strength. Muscle strength and ADL at 12weeks after the renal transplantation demonstrated to have a tendency to decrease compared with those of pre-renal transplantation.
3. Knee extensor muscle strength increased significantly at 16 weeks rather than at 12weeks following the renal transplantation. No signifcant changes were observed in muscle strength except knee extensor muscle strength. Muscle strength and ADL at l6weeks after the renal transplantation tended to increase compared with those of after the renal transplantation.
4. The changes of muscle strength and ADL after the renal transplantation were mostly influenced by muscle strength and ADL of pre-renal transplantation rather than steroid
medication following the renal transplantation.
The results suggest that muscle strength and ADL at 12weeks following the renal transplantation may decrease and those at 16weeks may increase compared with those at 12weeks following the renal transplantation.
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