Effects of Exercise Programs on Psychoemotional and Quality-of-Life Factors in Adult Patients with Cancer and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation or Bone Marrow Transplantation: A Systematic Review

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 29;19(23):15896. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192315896.

Abstract

This review analyzed the effects of an exercise program on psychoemotional and quality-of-life (QoL) factors in adult patients with cancer and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Studies were identified from the PubMed and Web of Science databases (from inception to 24 August 2022), according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, based in turn on the Delphi list. A total of 20 randomized controlled studies were included with 1219 participants. The main result of this systematic review is that exercise program interventions produce improvements on psychoemotional and QoL factors in adult patients with cancer and HSCT or BMT. Moreover, exercise programs may have a beneficial effect on health, maintaining or increasing the patient's QoL. Further, it has a positive effect on the prevention and control of transplant complications in combination with medical treatment.

Keywords: cancer; exercise; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; psychoemotional factors; quality of life.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Quality of Life

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.