Abstract
Patients experience physical, psychological, and psychosocial distress, as well as a deteriorating quality of life (QOL) due to complications at different stages of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Pre-transplant status is often compromised by inactivity due to side effects of chemotherapy or the disease itself. Regimen-related toxicity (RRT), complications such as infections, graft versus host disease, and treatment processes during and after HSCT often result in patients being immobilized for long periods by bed rest that leads to fatigue and loss of muscle strength and endurance. Previous studies have shown that exercise might not only improve muscle strength and aerobic fitness, but also decrease cancer-related fatigue and enhance QOL. Many studies recommend flexibility training, as well as aerobic exercise and muscle strengthening using resistance. Aerobic exercise should be gradually increased to a total of at least 150 minutes spread over three to five days per week, resistance training should be implemented two to three days per week, and flexibility training should occur every day. Consistent evidence has shown that exercise is safe for patients undergoing HSCT.
