Introduction: Lung transplantation is an important treatment for end-stage lung disease. In the post-discharge rehabilitation stage after transplantation, recipients may experience impaired maximal exercise capacity and skeletal muscle function due to the effects of prolonged bed rest and immunosuppressive drug therapy. Physical activity can effectively improve health outcomes and quality of life in lung transplant recipients. Understanding the attitudes and experiences of lung transplant patients towards physical activity can help nurses formulate targeted individualized exercise guidance programs and improve patients' participation and compliance in physical activity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the experiences of physical activity in lung transplant recipients.

Methods: A qualitative study with a phenomenology approach was undertaken with lung transplant recipients who had admitted for follow-up review. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 lung transplant recipients. Interviews were conducted by face-to-face and recorded and then transcribed verbatim.

Results: Four dominant themes and 9 subthemes were identified:

1. physical activity preferences: preference for low-intensity exercise, preference for single activity pattern;
2. perceived benefits for physical activity: promoting health and recovery, gaining a positive sense of self-identity;
3. barriers to physical activity: health-related issues, psychological factor (disappointment with the effects of physical activity, fear of physical activity), external environmental factors;
4. motivating factors for physical activity: desire to restore health; family support.

Conclusion: Physical activity is an effective supplementary treatment method for lung transplant recipients. Nursing staff should mobilize multi-channel support to help patients overcome obstacles to physical activity; pay attention to patient experience and provide individualized care; promote patients to develop physical activity habits and improve long-term rehabilitation compliance.