Investigation of the effects of exercise program on physical and cognitive functions and quality of life in adult patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The aim of this study was to determine effectiveness of an individual exercise program by starting before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and was performed through hospitalisation and continued with home exercise program after discharge up to 100 days after transplantation. Totally 50 patients were included in this study and participants were assigned to two groups as intervention group (IG, n=25) and control group (CG, n=25) with simple randomization. Participants were assessed at three time points: before HSCT, at the discharge and at the 100th day after HSCT. Functional exercise capacity, physical functions, muscle strength, cognitive functions, quality of life, fatigue, and emotional status of the individuals were assessed. For IG, aerobic, muscle strengthening, endurance and stretching exercises were performed through hospitalization and these exercises and walking program were advised as home exercise program after discharge, which was controlled by a physiotherapist at least two times up to 100th day. At the disharge, while peripheral muscle strength and quality of life level was higher in IG than CG, fatigue severity was lower in IG (p˂0.05). At the 100th day, it was found that positive effects of the exercise program on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, quality of life, and fatigue continued when compared with CG (p˂0.05). Moreover, complication rate after HSCT was 32% lower in IG than CG (p˂0.05). As a result of our study, an exercise program continued up to 100 days after HSCT which is individual and supervised by a physiotherapist has positive effects on physical functions, clinical status, fatigue, and quality of life throughout HSCT. Exercise programs for individuals undergoing HSCT should be performed dynamically, planned daily, according to the individuals' performance, clinical and hematologic status.