Abstract

Patients who have had hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may experience a variety of musculoskeletal issues that may lead to long-term functional disability. Physical therapy (PT), as a member of the medical staff, has traditionally been promoted for restoring functional capacity and enhancing quality of life following HSCT. This patient group needs a special approach to rehabilitation because of the nature of their condition and the weight of post-transplant sequelae. This strategy must take into account their complex musculoskeletal presentation, which includes fascia, muscle, tendons, bones, and ligaments. Although anecdotal data suggests that these individuals do not always receive the PT care they require, to our knowledge there is no universally accepted structured PT procedure or pathway to enable rehab specialists achieve the best possible results for this patient population. Consequently, the Physical Therapy Association for Graft Versus Host Disease herein provides a brief review on the role of PT in mitigating musculoskeletal complications in collaboration with the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the Survivorship Special Interest Group of the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, and the Quality of Life Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Keywords: Exercise; HSCT; Allogeneic; Physical therapy; Marrow Transplantation