Effects of an exercise program on muscle performance in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been successfully used for the treatment of several hematological malignancies; however, it is associated with transplant-related toxicities such as functional impairment and muscle weakness. In order to analyze how an exercise program may influence muscle strength in patients undergoing BMT, we carried out a prospective study assessing patients from the pre-BMT phase to 16 weeks post-BMT. In all, 18 patients underwent three trials: (1) pre-BMT, (2) after marrow engraftment, and (3) 6 weeks after trial 2. After trial 2, the patients were randomized in a control group (CG) or treatment group (TG), which received a 6-week exercise program with active exercise, muscle stretching and treadmill walking. The results obtained in trial 1 showed similar values for CG and TG, as both groups had muscle strength lower than normal patterns based on data concerning age, sex and weight. In trial 2, CG and TG showed similarly decreased values. In trial 3, TG showed values higher than CG for all muscle groups tested. These results suggest that the exercise program was efficient in promoting an increase of muscle strength after allogeneic BMT.