Effects of Resistance Training on Recovery During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

This study investigates whether a resistance training program can help patients recovering from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for hematologic malignancies. HSCT is a vital treatment, but it comes with a high risk of severe complications. These include opportunistic infections caused by low white blood cell counts (neutropenia) and acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), where donor cells attack the patient's body. Additionally, more than half of patients suffered from severe cancer-related fatigue during or after transplantation, which significantly lowers their quality of life. Currently, treatments for these complications rely almost entirely on medication. The purpose of this study is to see if an 8-week elastic band resistance training program can speed up blood cell recovery, reduce the severity of aGVHD, shorten hospital stays, and alleviate cancer-related fatigue. A total of 86 patients preparing for HSCT at Taipei Veterans General Hospital will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1. The Resistance Training Group (43 patients): Participants will perform 45-minute elastic band exercises three times a week, starting four weeks before their transplant and continuing until four weeks after. 2. The Control Group (43 patients): Participants will receive standard routine care. The study will compare the two groups by measuring how many days it takes for white blood cells to recover, the occurrence and severity of aGVHD, muscle strength (hand grip and lower limbs), fatigue levels, and the total length of hospital stays.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 18 years and older. * Patients must be conscious. * Able to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese, or possess reading and writing literacy. * Diagnosed with hematological malignancies, including Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Hodgkin lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Multiple myeloma, or Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). * Scheduled to undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), including autologous and allogeneic transplantation. * Assessed by the individual subject's attending physician as eligible to participate in resistance exercise training. * ECOG performance status ≤ 2. Exclusion Criteria: * Absolute contraindications to exercise, including cardiac insufficiency (NYHA Class III/IV or unexplained arrhythmia, aortic dissection, and severe aortic stenosis), uncontrolled hypertension (resting systolic blood pressure \> 200 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \> 110 mmHg), and severe musculoskeletal injury. * Cancellation of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) due to clinical deterioration or medical instability.