Feasibility Study of Exercises for Myeloablative Allogeneic Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BMT) Patients

Blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) is commonly used in the treatment of oncologic and hematologic disorders. Patients undergoing Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are screened for functional status among other criteria to ensure that they are able to endure the rigorous treatment involved during Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The patient entering the transplant process is possibly already functionally compromised from their disease, prior cancer treatment, and possible other co-morbidities. Additional factors of the transplantation that compromise the independent functional status of the patient include the high dose preparative regimen, pancytopenia, steroid-related side effects, hospitalization, transplantation complications such as infections, pulmonary alterations, acute and chronic Graft-versus-host Disease (GVHD), pain, decreased nutritional input, and other sequelae of transplantation.

Physical Therapy has been utilized in this population primarily as a supportive therapy to prevent and limit the patient's functional decline. Studies have addressed general and aerobic exercise in this population but there is a paucity of research investigating the benefits of a strength-training program, particularly performed in weight-bearing, in attenuating the detrimental effects of the transplantation on functional status.

This is a feasibility study questioning if an exercise program including weight-bearing strengthening exercises and cardiovascular exercise is practical for the patients to carry out as inpatients. The study will also preliminarily determine if this exercise program influences functional outcomes and level of fatigue. Such outcome measures will include 1) FiveTimes Sit-To-Stand Test, 2) Six-Minute Walk Test, 3) stair performance, 4) Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation (FACT-BMT) and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) Scales.

The study population will include patients with lymphomas and acute leukemias undergoing matched-related donor allogeneic myeloablative Blood and marrow transplantation (BMT).