Exercise in Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The Effect of Therapeutic Exercise in Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This interventional study assigns participants undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to a supervised exercise program or usual care. The exercise program includes strength, endurance, and flexibility sessions for 8 weeks, 5 days per week. The control group receives usual care without a structured exercise program.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Hematologic Malignacy
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Exercise Program

Detailed Description

This interventional study is conducted at Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Hematology in patients scheduled for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Eligible participants are assigned to either a supervised exercise program or usual care.

The exercise intervention consists of strength, endurance, and flexibility sessions performed five days per week for eight weeks under supervision. Participants in the control group receive standard medical care without a structured exercise program.

The study aims to examine the effects of the exercise program during the transplantation process in patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Kayseri
    • Kayseri, Kayseri, Turkey (Türkiye), 38039
      • Erciyes University Faculty of Sport Science

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years, <65 years
• Able to exercise at time of enrolment.
• no methastasis

Exclusion Criteria:- Unable to communicate or read in Turkish,

• Contraindications to 3 T MRI (e.g., pacemaker or implanted metallic device).
• co-morbid cardiac disease
• painful joint

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Exercise Intervention In Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Patients:A Randomized Controlled Trial; The Exercise Group consisted of patients scheduled to undergo autologous bone marrow transplantation who were randomly assigned to the intervention arm of the study. Initial number of participants: 12 Included in final analysis: 8 Intervention: 8-week structured exercise program; Performed 5 days per week; Included endurance, strength, and flexibility exercises Exercise intensity was determined using the 1-repetition maximum (1RM) principle for resistance training and the Karvonen method (40-60%) for aerobic training. Exercise intensity was monitored using the 24-point Borg Scale. In addition to standard medical treatment, this group received a structured therapeutic exercise program.	Behavioral: Exercise Program; 8-week structured strength, endurance and flexibility exercise program performed 5 days per week. Resistance intensity was determined using 1RM, aerobic intensity using Karvonen method (40-60%), monitored with Borg Scale
No Intervention: Exercise Intervention-Free Randomized Controlled Study in Autogenous Stem Cell Transplant Patients; The Control Group consisted of patients randomly assigned to the control arm of the study. Initial number of participants: 12 Included in final analysis: 7 Intervention: Standard medical treatment only; No structured exercise program was implemented This group served as the comparison group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Handgrip Strength During the Transplantation Process	Change in handgrip strength measured using a hand dynamometer at four time points: 4 weeks before transplantation, 2 days before transplantation, during the engraftment period, and 2 weeks after engraftment in patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation.	Baseline (4 weeks before transplantation),pre-transplant (2 days before), during engraftment, and 2 weeks post-engraftment 8(approximately 10-12 weeks total follow-up)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Back Strength	Back strength measured using a back dynamometer (kg) at four time points during the transplantation process.	Baseline (4 weeks before transplantation), pre-transplant (2 days before), during engraftment, and 2 weeks post-engraftment (approximately 10-12 weeks total follow-up).
Change in Leg Strength	Leg strength measured using a leg dynamometer (kg) at four time points during the transplantation process.	Baseline (4 weeks before transplantation), pre-transplant (2 days before), during engraftment, and 2 weeks post-engraftment (approximately 10-12 weeks total follow-up).
Change in Waist Flexibility	Waist flexibility assessed by sit-and-reach test (cm) at four time points during the transplantation process.	Baseline (4 weeks before transplantation), pre-transplant (2 days before), during engraftment, and 2 weeks post-engraftment (approximately 10-12 weeks total follow-up).
Change in White Blood Cell Count	White blood cell count (10^9/L) obtained from routine complete blood count at four time points.	Baseline (4 weeks before transplantation), pre-transplant (2 days before), during engraftment, and 2 weeks post-engraftment (approximately 10-12 weeks total follow-up).
Change in Neutrophil Count	Neutrophil count (10^9/L) obtained from routine complete blood count at four time points.	Baseline (4 weeks before transplantation), pre-transplant (2 days before), during engraftment, and 2 weeks post-engraftment (approximately 10-12 weeks total follow-up).
Change in Lymphocyte Count	Lymphocyte count (10^9/L) obtained from routine complete blood count at four time points.	Baseline (4 weeks before transplantation), pre-transplant (2 days before), during engraftment, and 2 weeks post-engraftment (approximately 10-12 weeks total follow-up).
Change in Platelet Count	Platelet count (10^9/L) obtained from routine complete blood count at four time points.	Baseline (4 weeks before transplantation), pre-transplant (2 days before), during engraftment, and 2 weeks post-engraftment (approximately 10-12 weeks total follow-up).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: TC Erciyes University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mustafa Karakuş, PhD, TC Erciyes University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Wiskemann J, Huber G. Physical exercise as adjuvant therapy for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2008 Feb;41(4):321-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1705917. Epub 2007 Nov 19.
• Jarden M, Baadsgaard MT, Hovgaard DJ, Boesen E, Adamsen L. A randomized trial on the effect of a multimodal intervention on physical capacity, functional performance and quality of life in adult patients undergoing allogeneic SCT. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2009 May;43(9):725-37. doi: 10.1038/bmt.2009.27. Epub 2009 Feb 23.
• Baumann FT, Kraut L, Schule K, Bloch W, Fauser AA. A controlled randomized study examining the effects of exercise therapy on patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2010 Feb;45(2):355-62. doi: 10.1038/bmt.2009.163. Epub 2009 Jul 13.
• Dimeo F, Fetscher S, Lange W, Mertelsmann R, Keul J. Effects of aerobic exercise on the physical performance and incidence of treatment-related complications after high-dose chemotherapy. Blood. 1997 Nov 1;90(9):3390-4.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 14, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 20, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): September 10, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 27, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 4, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 4, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: exercise; neutrophil; white blood cell; Autologous bone marrow transplantation; lymphocite
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Motor Activity; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Patient Care; Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Resistance Training
• Other Study ID Numbers: ERU-SPBF-MK-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to institutional data protection policies and ethical restrictions

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No