Engaging in Endurance Sports After Kidney Donation: What You Need to Know
If you are a high-level or endurance athlete who is considering kidney donation, you may be wondering if you can still participate in endurance sports like marathons, long-distance cycling, or triathlons.
The answer is a resounding yes—many living kidney donors go on to achieve incredible feats in endurance sports with no negative effects on their health, fitness, or performance. In fact, many kidney donors return to their favorite endurance sports and even set new personal records.
Kidney donors can participate in marathons, ultramarathons, long-distance cycling events, triathlons, and other extreme endurance events. For example, kidney donors have participated in events including hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, the Race Across America, the Wild West Relay, RacingThe Planet’s 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series, and various Ironman events.
Two kidney donors even ran 12 marathons in 12 months to raise awareness for living donation. Another biking and adventure enthusiast created an event called the Organ Trail after donating his kidney and has so far completed five rides totaling 8,100 miles.
Another donor, who donated both a kidney and a portion of his liver, completed the Seven Summits—scaling the highest mountain on each of the seven continents within one year— and also set a Guinness World Record for the fastest summit of the highest points in all 50 U.S. states.
While it’s possible to compete at a high level after kidney donation, it’s also important to take extra care of your remaining kidney. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Healing and Recovery: After surgery, your body needs time to heal. Most donors can return to light physical activity within four weeks, but endurance sports typically require a longer recovery period. High-performance athletes may need six months to a year to get back to their pre-donation performance levels.
Hydration: With one kidney, maintaining proper hydration is more critical than ever, especially during endurance activities. Drink water consistently before, during, and after workouts to support your kidney’s function and overall health.
Building Back Gradually: Returning to endurance sports should be a gradual process. Start with low-intensity activities like walking or gentle cycling before increasing intensity and duration. Listen to your body and give it the time it needs to adjust.
Avoiding NSAIDs: Many endurance athletes rely on NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) to manage pain. However, these drugs can strain kidney function and should therefore be avoided after kidney donation. Safer alternatives include acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Avoiding Contact Sports: While individual sports like running, cycling, and swimming are usually fine after kidney donation, doctors recommend avoiding heavy contact sports like football, rugby, boxing, and martial arts.
Getting Regular Checkups: Kidney donors are required to have regular follow-ups, which will include blood and urine tests to ensure the remaining kidney is working as expected. Transplant centers are legally required to follow living donors for two years. After that, it’s still a good idea to get regular checkups, eat a balanced diet, and maintain a healthy weight. Endurance sports after kidney donation are not only possible but can be a powerful way to showcase what’s possible after kidney donation. You can continue to pursue your athletic passions and inspire others to consider the life-changing gift of kidney donation.