Transplant Rehabilitation
15-20% mortality reduction with ERAS protocols incorporating rehabilitation. Pre-habilitation before transplant reduces post-operative complications.
Each lens uses its own dimensions and default weights. Scores answer different questions across paths — they aren’t apples-to-apples. How scoring works →
Pre-habilitation and post-transplant rehab reduce complications, ICU time, and improve functional recovery.
Applicable exclusively at solid organ transplant centers; not relevant outside this narrow setting.
Covered under standard PT/OT codes in transplant centers; no certification-specific billing premium.
Specialized fellowship or institutional training; limited formal certification pathways.
Demand limited to transplant centers; valued by UNOS-affiliated programs.
Transplant patients highly motivated; functional recovery goal is personally meaningful.
Transplant patients are deeply embedded in insurance/hospital systems; essentially zero direct cash-pay market exists for this population.
Even where rare, the payer mix is institutional and reimbursement-bound, with no consumer brand recognition to command premium pricing.
Genuinely rare niche, but rarity does not translate to private-practice differentiation since the patient population doesn't seek outpatient cash services.
Not a scalable practice model — clinical care happens inside transplant centers, not standalone clinics with employed clinicians.
Public has near-zero awareness of transplant rehab as a discrete service to seek out.
Typically a CEU-based pathway rather than a multi-year credential, so reasonably efficient to obtain, but ROI is poor outside acute care.
Not a board specialty or ABPTRFE-recognized credential; viewed as a niche clinical interest rather than promotion-grade.
Modest but growing literature base; faculty in acute care can publish case series and program-development papers.
Fits narrowly into acute care or medical/surgical electives — limited core curricular utility.
Evidence base is largely observational/cohort with few RCTs; growing but still thin compared to mainstream rehab topics.
Rarely listed as preferred in faculty postings; more relevant for clinical residency directors in acute care.
Lower time burden than a residency or board cert, so reasonable on a cost-per-credential basis.
- 01Telerehabilitation exercise program in pediatric patients after kidney transplantation: a randomized clinical trialR. P. Carbonera; A. A. Luft; A. C. Sobotyk; K. de Lima Recoba; C. D. Garcia; J. L. Lukrafka · Pediatr Nephrol2026RCTdoi:10.1007/s00467-025-07123-3
- 02Impella 5.5 as Heart Transplant Bridge Facilitated Rehabilitation and Improves Post-Transplant Outcomes: Retrospective Cohort StudyS. Jonna; G. Olaizola; L. Raavi; I. Huespe; S. Bauque; A. Jena; A. Pareek; S. Bateh; A. Hanson; A. Perez; S. Isha; J. Haney; P. Amoroso; S. Vilela; K. Britton; N. Matos; M. Ojard; S. Kiley; R. Hannon; J. C. Leoni Moreno; M. A. Lyle; M. Thomas; B. Sareyyupoglu; L. Sura; O. Davis; S. Pham; G. M. Worsowicz; P. Patel; P. M. Franco; D. K. Sanghavi · Asaio j2026Cohort studydoi:10.1097/mat.0000000000002460
- 03Inpatient functional rehabilitation after liver transplantation: clinical benefit for functional recovery and indicators for early intervention – a retrospective observational studyS. Leunis; H. Van Criekinge; L. Schepers; M. Segal; K. De Paepe; J. Dever; F. Hoffmann; H. Monbailliu; L. Pollet; W. Laleman; S. Van der Merwe; H. Van Malenstein; J. Verbeek; C. Verslype; M. S. Barriga; J. Pirenne; D. Monbaliu · International Journal of Rehabilitation Research2026Otherdoi:10.1097/MRR.0000000000000692
- 04Mens sana in corpore non semper sanum: nurturing mind-body harmony in transplant prehabilitationand rehabilitationT. Rogach; J. Woleská; C. Cavalli; C. Annema · Curr Opin Organ Transplant2026Otherdoi:10.1097/mot.0000000000001274
- 05Real‐Time Remotely Supervised Home‐Based Rehabilitation Exercise Program for Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Pilot Study to Explore the Optimal ApproachA. Yuguero‐Ortiz; M. A. Banegas; R. S. García; M. G. Umbert; M. C. Sánchez; B. Romano‐Andrioni; V. V. Jiménez; S. G. Carreño; G. Piñero; M. Arias‐Guillén · Physiotherapy Research International2026Pilot/feasibilitydoi:10.1002/pri.70141
- 06Randomized Clinical Trial of the Comparison of Continuous Training vs. Interval Training as a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF): A Pilot StudyM. Abedi; M. S. Mirenayat; M. Koorepazan Moftakhar; R. Zahiri; A. Fakharian · Journal of Iranian Medical Council (JIMC)2025RCTdoi:10.18502/jimc.v8i4.19543
- 07Enhancing Functional Performance and Quality of Life with Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients Before Lung Transplant: A Quasi-Experimental StudyR. Alghofaily; M. I. Aldhahi; M. Takroni; H. Al Khabbaz; E. Abufarhaneh; R. Nazer; D. Broering; A. Albarrati · Exp Clin Transplant2025Otherdoi:10.6002/ect.2024.0329
- 08Understanding the feasibility of home-based rehabilitation in kidney transplant recipients: A mixed-methods interpretationR. E. Billany; H. M. L. Young; C. J. Lightfoot; N. C. Bishop; A. C. Smith; M. P. M. Graham-Brown · PLoS One2025Pilot/feasibilitydoi:10.1371/journal.pone.0336620
- 09Evaluation of health-related quality of life and performance in intestinal transplant and rehabilitation patients: a cross-sectional studyE. Jang; M. H. Kim; J. K. Hwang; S. C. Park; S. S. Yun; M. D. Lee; J. H. Chung · Ann Surg Treat Res2025Cross-sectionaldoi:10.4174/astr.2025.108.1.31
- 10Oral health and rehabilitation in face transplant recipients - a systematic reviewL. Knoedler; M. Kauke-Navarro; S. Knoedler; T. Niederegger; E. Hofmann; M. Heiland; S. Koerdt; S. Nahles; H. Baecher · Clin Oral Investig2025Systematic reviewdoi:10.1007/s00784-024-06078-3
- 11Post-Transplant Self-Management, Self-Efficacy, and Subjective Well-Being in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Cross-Sectional StudyJ. Lai; D. Ma; W. Wang; L. Wu; Y. Liu · Transplant Proc2025Cross-sectionaldoi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2025.04.002
- 12Comparative Efficacy of Non‐Pharmacological Interventions on Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Disorder, and Quality of Life in Patients With Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Network Meta‐AnalysisM. Li; B. Yu; H. Yang; H. He; R. Gao · Journal of Clinical Nursing (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)2025Systematic reviewdoi:10.1111/jocn.17753
- 13Is High-Intensity Interval Training an Option for Post-Kidney Transplant Physical Rehabilitation Programmes? A Scoping ReviewV. Lovatto; B. D. S. Sousa; V. Marães · J Multidiscip Healthc2025Systematic reviewdoi:10.2147/jmdh.S491605
- 14Development and Evaluation of an Inpatient Rehabilitation Model of Care Tailored to Solid Organ TransplantationM. R. Manes; H. A. Kendall; M. G. Bowden; C. E. Bailey; T. Paris; J. S. Hoertz; P. Shah; K. Maher · Clin Transplant2025Otherdoi:10.1111/ctr.70324
- 15Rehabilitation for Physical Frailty in Lung Transplant Candidates: A Systematic ReviewL. McGarrigle; G. Norman; H. Hurst; L. Gillespie; C. Todd · Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)2025Systematic reviewdoi:10.1097/CPT.0000000000000265
- 16The Leisure Engagement Scale©: A Therapeutic Recreation Outcome Measure for Children Undergoing Bone Marrow TransplantationV. L. Mould; H. Sotak; M. Chadbourne; V. Green; A. Gonzales; B. Reader; J. Stanek · Therapeutic Recreation Journal2025Otherdoi:10.18666/TRJ-2025-V59-I3-12813
- 17Establishment of emerging practices and research priorities for telerehabilitation in solid organ transplantation: meeting report and narrative literature reviewD. Rozenberg; S. Logan; S. Sohrabipour; N. Bourgeois; A. Cote; R. Deliva; A. De Souza; R. de Vries; M. Donald; M. Ferreira; D. Hart; M. Ibrahim Masthan; T. Jaundis-Ferreira; S. Juillard; M. Khoury; A. Lallani; D. Mager; I. Mucsi; A. Orchanian-Cheff; J. L. Reed; P. Tandon; K. Tennankore; E. Yong; L. Wickerson; S. Mathur · Front Rehabil Sci2025Narrative reviewdoi:10.3389/fresc.2025.1535138
- 18Characterizing adult rehabilitation programs for solid organ transplant candidates and recipients across CanadaS. Sohrabipour; N. Bourgeois; S. Mathur; T. Janaudis-Ferreira; S. Logan; L. Wickerson; D. Rozenberg · Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences2025Otherdoi:10.3389/fresc.2025.1674381
- 19The Five Phases of Patients' Recovery and Rehabilitation After a Stem Cell Transplantation: A Qualitative StudyM. C. M. van der Lans; A. van Staa; H. A. van der Stege; W. H. Oldenmenger · Seminars in Oncology Nursing2025Qualitativedoi:10.1016/j.soncn.2025.151959
- 20Effect of home-based exercise program on patients with aplastic anemia treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a non-randomized trialM. Ye; C. Xu; X. Tan; M. Cao; M. Xu · J Cancer Surviv2025RCTdoi:10.1007/s11764-025-01824-2
- 21Group Versus Individual Rehabilitation in Lung Transplantation: A Retrospective Noninferiority AssessmentR. Byrd; R. Breslin; P. Wang; S. Peskoe; S. C. Chow; S. Lowers; L. D. Snyder; A. M. Pastva · Cardiopulm Phys Ther J2024Otherdoi:10.1097/cpt.0000000000000233
- 22Role of Outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in a Multidisciplinary Prehabilitation Program for Older Adults Before Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell TransplantJ. T. Cheng; O. Obaisi; R. Yadav; E. Gupta; J. B. Fu; E. Bruera; A. Collaco; N. Szewczyk; U. R. Popat; N.-H. An · American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation2024Otherdoi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000002428
- 23Factors Influencing the Attrition Rate of a 10-Week Multimodal Rehabilitation Program in Patients After Lung Transplant: A Neural Network AnalysisV. Dávalos-Yerovi; D. Sánchez-Rodríguez; A. Gómez-Garrido; P. Launois; M. Tejero-Sánchez; V. Pujol-Blaya; Y. G. Curbelo; O. Donohoe; E. Marco · Healthcare (2227-9032)2024Otherdoi:10.3390/healthcare12222239
- 24Interindividual response variation to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on changes in cardiorespiratory fitness in heart transplant patients: A secondary meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsG. A. Kelley; K. S. Kelley; B. L. Stauffer · JHLT Open2024Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.jhlto.2023.100033
- 25Cardiac Rehabilitation to Inpatient Heart Transplant—HRN4HTx Intervention ProtocolM. Loureiro; V. Parola; J. Duarte; I. Oliveira; M. Antunes; G. Coutinho; M. M. Martins; A. Novo · Nursing Reports2024Study protocoldoi:10.3390/nursrep14030155
- 26What motivates heart transplantation patients to exercise and engage in physical activity? A network analysisE. Marques-Sule; D. Hansen; L. Almenar; P. Deka; T. Sentandreu-Mañó; R. López-Vilella; L. Klompstra; F. V. C. Machado · European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing2024Otherdoi:10.1093/eurjcn/zvad051
- 27Exercise Preferences, Barriers, and Facilitators of Individuals With Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy Before Stem Cell Transplantation: A Mixed-Methods StudyG. M. Purdy; R. Nanad; L. Ternes; N. D. Dolgoy; C. M. Sellar; G. Francis; N. Crisp; E. Pituskin; M. de Guzman Wilding; S. Perry; I. Sandhu; C. P. Venner; M. L. McNeely · Cancer Nursing2024Otherdoi:10.1097/NCC.0000000000001240
- 28How to cultivate sustainable physical health and wellness in transplant recipients: the emerging and enduring role of exercise scientistsG. K. Sakkas; C. D. Giannaki; K. R. Wilund; C. Karatzaferi · Curr Opin Organ Transplant2024Otherdoi:10.1097/mot.0000000000001160
- 29Effects of pre-transplant chest physical therapy on spirometric values and respiratory muscle strength in patients waiting for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a randomized controlled trialI. S. Waked; Z. M. Ibrahim; N. Alkhamees; A. H. Rashad · Arch Med Sci2024RCTdoi:10.5114/aoms/150780
- 30Lung Transplant Rehabilitation-A ReviewY. Abidi; Z. Kovats; A. Bohacs; M. Fekete; S. Naas; I. Madurka; K. Torok; L. Bogyo; J. T. Varga · Life (Basel)2023Otherdoi:10.3390/life13020506
- 31Graft-Versus-Host Disease: an Update on Functional Implications and Rehabilitation InterventionsL. Brothers; J. Malhotra; C. Andrews; S. R. Smith · Curr Oncol Rep2023Otherdoi:10.1007/s11912-023-01363-y
- 32Physical Rehabilitation Before and After Lung Transplantation for COVID-19 ARDS: A Case ReportA. Brunne; S. Tzanakakis; P. Jaloul; N. Cote; S. Juvet; S. Keshavjee; L. Wickerson · Physiother Can2023Case seriesdoi:10.3138/ptc-2021-0097
- 33Effectiveness of Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation for Heart Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisR. Costa; E. Moreira; J. Silva Cardoso; L. F. Azevedo; J. A. Ribeiro; R. Pinto · Health Serv Insights2023Meta-analysisdoi:10.1177/11786329231161482
- 34Impact of delayed veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation weaning on postoperative rehabilitation of lung transplantation: a single-center comparative studyL. J. Li; H. Y. Xu; X. W. Wang; K. Jin; C. Zhang; M. Du; J. Y. Chen; Q. C. Wu · J Artif Organs2023Otherdoi:10.1007/s10047-022-01376-7
- 35Exercise prehabilitation for people with myeloma undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation: results from PERCEPT pilot randomised controlled trialO. McCourt; A. Fisher; G. Ramdharry; J. Land; A. L. Roberts; N. Rabin; K. Yong · Acta Oncologica2023RCTdoi:10.1080/0284186X.2023.2178326
- 36Impact of structured physical therapy protocol among heart transplant recipients while on intra-aortic balloon pump in the pretransplant periodS. Patnaik; S. Nathan; A. Bui; B. Kar; I. D. Gregoric; C. B. Gilley · Artif Organs2023Study protocoldoi:10.1111/aor.14378
- 37Effect of rehabilitation in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantationT. Takekiyo; S. Morishita · Fukushima J Med Sci2023Otherdoi:10.5387/fms.2022-33
- 38Post-operative, inpatient rehabilitation after lung transplant evaluation (PIRATE): A feasibility randomized controlled trialB. J. Tarrant; E. Quinn; R. Robinson; M. Poulsen; L. Fuller; G. Snell; B. R. Thompson; B. M. Button; A. E. Holland · Physiother Theory Pract2023RCTdoi:10.1080/09593985.2022.2041779
- 39Design of Lung Transplant Go (LTGO): A randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of a telerehabilitation behavioral exercise intervention to improve physical activity, physical function, and blood pressure control after lung transplantationM. L. Vendetti; S. J. Esther Moon; C. C. Imes; A. Hergenroeder; F. Sciurba; E. Lendermon; J. Pilewski; D. Ren; B. Parmanto; B. Dewhirst; B. Willey; K. Jones; M. R. Morrell; P. Sanchez; A. DeVito Dabbs · Contemp Clin Trials Commun2023RCTdoi:10.1016/j.conctc.2023.101097
- 40Body Function and Structure, Activity, and Participation Limitations of Lung Transplant Recipients Within the Scope of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and HealthU. Ar; E. Yekeler; E. Calik-Kutukcu · Exp Clin Transplant2022Otherdoi:10.6002/ect.2022.0201
- 41Condensed Outpatient Rehabilitation Early After Lung Transplantation: A Retrospective Analysis of 6-Minute Walk Distance and Its PredictorsR. Byrd; P. J. Smith; H. F. McHugh; L. D. Snyder; A. M. Pastva · Cardiopulm Phys Ther J2022Otherdoi:10.1097/cpt.0000000000000174
- 42Strategic Planning and Essential Steps for Establishing a Uterine Transplant and Rehabilitation Program: From Idea to RealityA. H. Dorafshar; A. Hamidian Jahromi; S. R. Horen; L. S. Schechter; L. Johannesson; G. Testa; M. Hertl; S. Dewdney; J. Aschkenasy; M. Wood-Molo; C. Brincat; E. Cherullo; J. M. Behel; C. Hebert; R. Shulman; S. Bassi; A. T. Alecci; B. Konety · Ann Surg2022Otherdoi:10.1097/sla.0000000000005301
- 43The role of acute in-patient rehabilitation on short-term outcomes after liver transplantation: A systematic review of the literature and expert panel recommendationsD. S. Mina; P. Tandon; A. W. C. Kow; A. Chan; L. Edbrooke; D. A. Raptis; M. Spiro; N. Selzner; L. Denehy · Clin Transplant2022Systematic reviewdoi:10.1111/ctr.14706
- 44Current practices in lipid emulsion utilization in the prevention and treatment of intestinal failure-associated liver disease: A survey of pediatric intestinal rehabilitation and transplant centersV. K. Raghu; W. M. A. Sevilla; D. E. King; F. Alissa; S. Rothenberger; K. J. Smith; S. P. Horslen; J. A. Rudolph · JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr2022Cross-sectionaldoi:10.1002/jpen.2413
- 45Rehabilitation in children and adolescents undergoing stem cell transplantation: A pilot study focused on motor performanceF. Rossi; G. Zucchetti; M. Esposito; P. Berchialla; V. Sciannameo; E. Vassallo; F. Saglio; C. Chamorro Viña; S. Scarrone; R. Vittorini; F. Fagioli · European Journal of Cancer Care2022Pilot/feasibilitydoi:10.1111/ecc.13711
- 46Cardiac rehabilitation for heart transplant patients: Considerations for exercise trainingR. W. Squires; A. R. Bonikowske · Prog Cardiovasc Dis2022Otherdoi:10.1016/j.pcad.2021.12.003
- 47Multidisciplinary Care of a Vertebral Fracture in a Patient with Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: Safety Appropriateness in Interventional Pain Management and Rehabilitation ConsiderationsV. Tieppo Francio; B. Barndt; U. Latif; S. M. Eickmeyer · Healthcare (Basel)2022Otherdoi:10.3390/healthcare10030497
- 48The level of daily physical activity and methods to increase it in patients after liver or kidney transplantationK. Wesołowska-Górniak; M. Wójtowicz; M. Federowicz; J. Gierus; B. Czarkowska-Pączek · Advances in Rehabilitation2022Otherdoi:10.5114/areh.2021.112070
- 49Mobile health technology to improve emergent frailty after lung transplantationJ. M. Diamond; A. M. Courtwright; P. Balar; M. Oyster; D. Zaleski; J. Adler; M. Brown; S. R. Hays; N. Sutter; C. Garvey; J. Kukreja; Y. Gao; A. Bruun; P. J. Smith; J. P. Singer · Clin Transplant2021Otherdoi:10.1111/ctr.14236
- 50Personalized physical rehabilitation program and employment in kidney transplant recipients: a randomized trialA. Kastelz; B. Fernhall; E. Wang; I. Tzvetanov; M. Spaggiari; A. Shetty; L. Gallon; G. Hachaj; B. Kaplan; E. Benedetti · Transpl Int2021RCTdoi:10.1111/tri.13868
- 51Exercise training in heart transplantationC. Kourek; E. Karatzanos; S. Nanas; A. Karabinis; S. Dimopoulos · World J Transplant2021Otherdoi:10.5500/wjt.v11.i11.466
- 52Pre-transplant Rehabilitation to Decrease the Post-transplant Length of Stay for Hematological Malignancy Patients Undergoing Allo-HSCTR. Matsugaki; M. Ohtani; Y. Mine; S. Saeki; K. Fushimi; S. Matsuda · Prog Rehabil Med2021Otherdoi:10.2490/prm.20210020