Physical therapy pathway and protocol for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Recommendations from The Eastern Mediterranean Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EMBMT) Group

Jaleel Mohammed; Mahmoud Aljurf; Abdulaziz Althumayri; Muntaha Almansour; Ahmed Alghamdi; Amir Ali Hamidieh; Alaa ElHaddad; Tarek Ben Othman; Ali Bazarbachi; Fahad Almohareb; Mohsen Alzahrani; Salam S Alkindi; Fahad Alsharif; Waleed Da'na; Hani Alhashmi; Mohamed A Bekadja; Salem H Al-Shammari; Asma El Quessar; Tariq M Satti; Naif Aljohani; Walid Rasheed; Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh; Naeem Chaudhri; Shahrukh K Hashmi

doi:10.1016/j.hemonc.2018.12.003

Physical therapy pathway and protocol for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Recommendations from The Eastern Mediterranean Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EMBMT) Group

Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther. 2019 Sep;12(3):127-132. doi: 10.1016/j.hemonc.2018.12.003. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Authors

Jaleel Mohammed¹, Mahmoud Aljurf², Abdulaziz Althumayri³, Muntaha Almansour³, Ahmed Alghamdi³, Amir Ali Hamidieh⁴, Alaa ElHaddad⁵, Tarek Ben Othman⁶, Ali Bazarbachi⁷, Fahad Almohareb³, Mohsen Alzahrani⁸, Salam S Alkindi⁹, Fahad Alsharif³, Waleed Da'na¹⁰, Hani Alhashmi¹¹, Mohamed A Bekadja¹², Salem H Al-Shammari¹³, Asma El Quessar¹⁴, Tariq M Satti¹⁵, Naif Aljohani¹⁶, Walid Rasheed³, Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh⁴, Naeem Chaudhri³, Shahrukh K Hashmi¹⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Rehabilitation department, Physical Therapy Association for Graft Versus Host Disease, Swindon, UK. Electronic address: qualityfrlife@gmail.com.
² Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Rehabilitation department, Physical Therapy Association for Graft Versus Host Disease, Swindon, UK.
³ Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Stem Cell Transplantation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
⁵ Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
⁶ Hematology, Centre National De Greffe De La Moelle Osseuse, Tunis, Tunisia.
⁷ Hematology/Oncology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
⁸ Hepatology & Hematology, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Hematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Al-Khoud, Oman.
¹⁰ Implantalogy/Hematology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
¹¹ Adult Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
¹² Department of Hematology and Cell Therapy, University Hospital EHU 1er November, Oran, Algeria.
¹³ Stem Cell Transplant, Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Kuwait.
¹⁴ Hematology and Oncology Pediatric Department, University Hospital Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.
¹⁵ Bone Marrow Transplant, Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
¹⁶ Adult Bone Marrow Transplant, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
¹⁷ Rehabilitation department, Physical Therapy Association for Graft Versus Host Disease, Swindon, UK; Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

PMID: 30653940
DOI: 10.1016/j.hemonc.2018.12.003

Abstract

Background: Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are often referred for physical therapy (PT) to help improve their quality of life. However, to our knowledge there is no clear PT pathway to guide therapists and patients before, during, and after HSCT.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was carried out exploring the role and benefits of PT in HSCT patients. The current evidence was comlimented with recommendations and opinions from the experts in the field, which included PT's and hematology consultants from PTAGVHD and the EMBMT group.

Result: A clear pathway and protocol as a working guide for rehabilitation professionals working with the HSCT patient's was developed.

Conclusion: This paper not only reviews the current evidence on safe PT practice but also puts forward a protocol and pathway for HSCT rehabilitation, highlights the importance of individualized exercise intervention for HSCT patients, and outlines safe practice guidelines for the physical therapists working in this field.

Keywords: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Blood Transfusion
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* / adverse effects
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* / methods
Humans
Physical Fitness
Physical Therapy Modalities*
Platelet Count
Quality of Life*