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A prospective, randomized evaluation of the feasibility of exergaming on patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 53, pages 584–590 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

The positive effects of physical and sports therapy for strain dependent physical practice and improved quality of life (QoL) are well known. Nevertheless, the available capacities and problem-oriented therapies in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are limited. We conducted a prospective, randomized study among 42 HSCT recipients in order to investigate the influence of exergaming on Nintendo Wii® or classical physiotherapy (PT) on physical fitness and psychological well-being. The trial included evaluation of muscle strength, endurance, physical activity, distress, QoL, anxiety, and depression. Within the first 2 weeks after HSCT endurance, muscle strength and physical well-being decreased, while the value of distress increased significantly in both groups. However, exergaming on Nintendo Wii® resulted in a decrease of anxiety and depression and improved emotional well-being, while the PT group showed a contrariwise pattern of these features. Analysis of the FACT-BMT revealed a decline of QoL domains 2 and 4 weeks after HSCT and an improvement afterwards. The decrease of functional status after HSCT was accompanied by a drop of QoL and an increase of distress in both groups. However, our prospective study demonstrates that exergaming using the Nintendo Wii® is feasible and well tolerated in HSCT recipients.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to our study participants and appreciate our physical therapists for helping us conduct the study.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Medizinische Klinik III, Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Palliativmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Germany

      Helge Schumacher, Sabrina Stüwe, Sebastian Freitag, Nico Greger, Christian Junghanss, Mathias Freund & Inken Hilgendorf

    2. Institut für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Germany

      Peter Kropp

    3. Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Germany

      Doreen Diedrich

    4. Klinik für Innere Medizin II, Abteilung für Hämatologie und Internistische Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Germany

      Inken Hilgendorf

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    1. Helge Schumacher
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    Correspondence to Inken Hilgendorf.

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    Helge Schumacher and Sabrina Stüwe contributed equally to this work.

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    Schumacher, H., Stüwe, S., Kropp, P. et al. A prospective, randomized evaluation of the feasibility of exergaming on patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 53, 584–590 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-017-0070-8

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