Join the Transplant Wellness Program

What is the Transplant Wellness Program (TWP)? 

The Transplant Wellness Program (TWP) is designed to support the wellness journey of transplant patients. There is a lot of evidence showing that exercise helps patients who are preparing for or recovering from organ transplants. Exercising before or after transplant may help patients recover from the surgery easily, reduce the amount of time in hospital, and improve wellness.  

The initial step to wellness is quite simple – move more! 

Can I join the TWP? 

Yes, you can join if you are over 18 years of age, and you are waitlisted or close to be waitlisted (in evaluation) for a kidney, liver or lung transplant. 

What does the TWP offer? 

We offer customized exercise programming. 

We will help transplant patients to increase their physical activity before and after surgery by offering a 12-week exercise program with a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP). You can participate in the 12-week exercise intervention before or after your transplant surgery, but you need to enroll in the TWP before your transplant. Our CEPs are trained to customize exercise programs to suit the needs and abilities of the participants. They also have experience in helping patients with chronic diseases to exercise. 

… and wellness behaviour change support. 

We all know that it is difficult to keep a good habit. That is why we will help you to keep exercising by offering you wellness behaviour change support. Our expert will listen to your side of the story, discuss any challenges you are facing and offer suggestions to help overcome the barriers to exercise. They will also help you to identify exercise goals and offer suggestions on how to incorporate wellness into your lifestyle! 

That’s not all!  

We want to you to keep being physically active, so we will also offer TWP maintenance support. 

The TWP maintenance resources such as group exercise classes, group wellness behaviour change support, and educational webinars will be available to you after you complete the 12-week exercise program. We want you to keep exercising and be as healthy as possible, so we will keep supporting you with maintenance programs for up to 5 years.  

What do I have to do? 

• Complete fitness assessments before and after the exercise program, after your transplant surgery, 6 months and 1 year after you complete the exercise program. 
• Complete surveys that will help us assess your quality of life, physical activity levels, diet, sleep habits and mental health. You will be asked to complete the surveys before and after the exercise program, after your transplant surgery, at 6 months and annually for 5 years. 

Want to learn more? 

Give us a call at 403-944-3688 or email us at twp@ucalgary.ca 

We look forward to supporting you in your transplant wellness journey!