Prehabilitation Exercise Training for Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Background
Patients with multiple myeloma often face significant loss of muscle strength, which can lead to worse survival rates. At the time of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), over half of these patients have low muscle mass. This can cause longer hospital stays and various health issues, including obesity and poor quality of life.
Objective
The PROTECT trial aims to explore how digitally supervised exercise can help improve muscle strength in patients with multiple myeloma before their ASCT.
Methods
This study is a randomized controlled trial involving 30 patients aged 18 and older who are planning to undergo ASCT. Participants will be divided into two groups: one group will follow an exercise program for 8 weeks, while the other will be on a waitlist. The exercise program will be conducted at home with guidance from a clinical exercise trainer, occurring three times a week and including both aerobic and resistance exercises tailored to each individual’s health condition. The waitlist group will continue with their normal activities and will receive the exercise intervention within 6 months post-ASCT.
Outcomes
The main goal is to measure lower limb muscle strength, along with assessing physical health, cardiorespiratory function, patient-reported outcomes, and other clinical results.
Results
The study was funded in late 2022, with participant recruitment beginning in June 2023. By August 2024, three participants had been randomized (one in the exercise group and two in the waitlist group). The study is expected to conclude and data analysis to commence in July 2025, with results anticipated in early 2026.
Conclusions
We believe that exercise will significantly enhance muscle strength and health outcomes for patients compared to those on the waitlist. The findings will lay the groundwork for larger studies on the benefits of exercise before treatment in this patient group.
Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05706766; Link to Study.
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