2020 Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 174-180
Purpose: This study aims to assess the relationship between blood data and the safety and feasibility of physical therapy in lymphoma patients with cytopenia.
Methods: Total 79 patients with lymphoma who underwent chemotherapy were included in this study. All patients received exercise therapy (13 on the Borg scale) six days per week, 20 min per day. Physical therapy adherence (implementation/scheduled days) was calculated after stratification according to the white blood cell and platelet counts. In addition, the occurrence of adverse events was investigated.
Result: The median physical therapy adherence rate of the patients was high at 96.8% (range, 61.7%-100.0%), and no adverse events were observed during or after the physical therapy. However, the adherence rate significantly decreased when the white blood cell count was <1,000/µL and platelet count was <20,000/µL (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the safety of exercise therapy in patients with lymphoma. In addition, the results suggest that decreased white blood cell and platelet counts are associated with poor physical therapy adherence.
