Always follow the advice of your care team.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
Exercise and physical therapy are important to help you regain your strength and endurance during the recovery process. Exercising helps relieve joint stiffness, muscle weakness, fatigue, and low energy levels that can occur when you are inactive. Continue the walking, biking, and exercise routines you may have started during your transplant period. Slowly increase the intensity and amount of this exercise to strengthen your endurance.
Recommended Precautions
If you have any questions about your physical therapy or exercise routine, please call the BWH Department of Rehabilitation Services at 617-732-5301.
Resource: Physical Therapy and Exercise (PDF)
Preventing Falls
A stem cell transplant can put you at risk for falls and injury. Your care team will help identify your risks for falls and make a care plan to help prevent falls. Below are some tips:
Preventing falls at home
Preventing falls when you visit Dana-Farber
Recommended Precautions
- Avoid exercise if you have a fever or don’t feel well. Exercise can further raise your body temperature and deplete your energy.
- Avoid general exercise if you have platelet counts below 10,000.
- Avoid resistive/aggressive exercise if you have platelet counts below 20,000. Low platelets place you at risk for abnormal bleeding and bruising.
- Examples of resistive/aggressive exercise are: biking with resistance; running; weight training; TheraBand exercises; high repetition (more than 5) of body weight exercises (lunges, squats, stairs etc.); exercises that make you hold your breath.
- Avoid exercise with a hematocrit of less than 20. A low hematocrit can make you feel tired and lightheaded.
- Follow your infection precautions by wearing a mask/gloves if you are in a public place.
- Avoid gyms until cleared by your care team.
- Talk with your care team if you have any changes in your condition that you feel limits your ability to exercise or if you have any questions about whether it is safe for you to perform a certain activity or exercise.
If you have any questions about your physical therapy or exercise routine, please call the BWH Department of Rehabilitation Services at 617-732-5301.
Resource: Physical Therapy and Exercise (PDF)
Preventing Falls
A stem cell transplant can put you at risk for falls and injury. Your care team will help identify your risks for falls and make a care plan to help prevent falls. Below are some tips:
Preventing falls at home
- Exercise regularly, if your doctor says it’s OK. This can help improve your balance and strength.
- Remove clutter and tripping hazards from walking areas including:
- Throw rugs
- Papers, books, shoes, boxes, etc. on the floor
- Wires or cords
- Objects on stairs
- Avoid unsteady steps, step-stools, or railings
- Consider adding railings to stairs and grab bars in bathrooms.
- Improve lighting in your home, especially near stairs and the path to the bathroom.
- Avoid wearing loose clothing that may cause you to trip.
- Wear slip-resistant shoes with rubber soles as much as possible. Avoid walking in socks. If prefer to wear socks at home, make sure they have rubber grips
- Consider sitting while getting dressed or taking a shower.
- Get up slowly after you sit or lie down.
- Get your vision checked every year and update your prescription glasses when needed.
Preventing falls when you visit Dana-Farber
- Always bring any needed assistive devices, such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, walker, or cane. Use a wheelchair when you need to travel long distances.
- If you have difficulty walking, ask a staff member for help. This is especially important if you need to travel to more than one location.
- If you feel dizzy or weak, ask for help before getting up.
- Never lean on an IV pole or use it for support. Staff can help you unplug your IV pump.
- Be sure you can reach your belongings.
- Ask your care team to review your medications often.