One Kidney, Still An Athlete: Sports You Can Play And Risks To Consider
One kidney does not rule out sports, but risks matter.
Having one functioning kidney does not automatically mean giving up sports or regular physical activity. A person may be born with one kidney, donate one, or lose kidney function because of illness or surgery, and still be able to remain physically active. However, participation in competitive or high-impact sports should be assessed individually. Dr Urmila Anandh, HOD, Nephrology, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, explains that the more useful question is how a person with one kidney can participate safely rather than assuming that sports are automatically off limits.
The main concern is an injury to the remaining kidney, since serious damage could leave a person with significantly reduced kidney reserve. However, available research suggests that severe sports-related kidney injuries are uncommon. A study involving more than 4.4 million high-school athlete exposures recorded only 18 kidney injuries, none of which were life-threatening or required surgery. The risk therefore needs to be considered alongside the benefits of physical activity rather than treated as an automatic reason to avoid sports.
The type of sport is an important part of the assessment. Activities involving direct blows or repeated impacts to the abdomen or flank may carry greater potential for kidney trauma. These can include football and other collision sports, martial arts, hockey, cycling, skiing, motorised sports and equestrian activities. This does not necessarily mean that someone with one kidney must avoid these activities, but the potential risks should be discussed with a healthcare professional before participating, particularly at a competitive level.
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The reason a person has one kidney also matters. Doctors may consider the health and function of the remaining kidney, blood pressure, urine protein levels and any underlying kidney condition when assessing sports participation. Before taking part in competitive or high-impact activities, a healthcare professional may recommend blood tests to assess kidney function, blood-pressure monitoring and urine testing. Protective equipment designed for the abdomen or flank may be considered in some situations, but there is not enough evidence to assume that such equipment can reliably prevent serious kidney injuries.
More recent evidence has questioned blanket restrictions on sports for people with a solitary kidney, given the relatively low rate of catastrophic kidney injuries associated with athletic activity. At the same time, staying active has important benefits for cardiovascular fitness, metabolic health and overall wellbeing. Avoiding all exercise solely because of having one kidney may therefore not be necessary for many people. The appropriate approach is to balance the health benefits of activity against the specific risks of the chosen sport.
People with one functioning kidney should have their individual circumstances reviewed by a healthcare professional and should inform them about the sport or activity they want to pursue. Regular monitoring of kidney function and blood pressure can help assess ongoing kidney health, while any significant blow to the abdomen or flank should receive appropriate medical attention. Having one kidney does not automatically exclude someone from an active lifestyle, but decisions about higher-risk activities should be based on individual medical assessment rather than a blanket rule.
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