Fitness & Exercise for Transplant Success
A Recap of the OTS Educational Meeting in February 2026.
Speaker: Mr. Gil Spitz, Exercise Physiologist
“Exercise is medicine.” That’s a mantra you might have heard before. Gil Spitz, an exercise physiologist for the liver transplant program at Baylor St. Luke in Houston, used it to sum up his work. He was the featured speaker at the monthly OTS meeting held via Zoom on February 6.
According to Mr. Spitz, there are “two truths” to remember—1) muscle mass is good, and 2) movement is vital-- for main training health after transplant. He helps pre-transplant and post-transplant patients with appropriate exercises. This helps their bodies’ reserves (and the added muscle helps the surgeons when they stitch sutures!)
He urged OTS listeners to remember the “two big jobs” for better health: eating right, and strength training.
He shared the surprising fact that exercising a muscle—stimulates growth hormones-which then help ALL the muscles in the body. When muscle mass increases, a person’s immune system benefits. This is because transplant folks on immunosuppressants still have SOME immunity; doctors have estimated that a transplant recipient’s immune system works with twenty percent efficacy. Building muscle mass literally creates more room for T cells and other components of the immune system.
Mr. Spitz recommended resistance training to build muscle. A routine could be 3 sets of 10 repetitions—using weights that are almost at an individual’s limit, at 75 percent. The exercises he strongly recommends—the “Big Four”—are 1) any type of squat (can be rising to stand from a seated position) 2) any type of hinge, or bridge 3) any type of rowing and 4) any type of press, which strengthens chest muscles. He also said that balance exercises are very important, such as strengthening calf muscles, to prevent falls. And WALKING is a fantastic exercise, Mr. Spitz said. He urged caution if hypotension (low blood pressure) is an issue, however.
By strengthening muscles, an individual will develop “grit,” the willingness to tackle other challenges, he concluded.
Mr Spitz thanked OTS for their attention and asked that anyone with questions feel free to email him at Gil.Spitz@commonspirit.org. OTS is grateful that Mr. Spitz could share his knowledge, encouragement and innovative healing exercises with our group on February 6.