Exercise Therapy for Multiple Myeloma Patients

Physical exercise is an important supportive therapy for cancer patients, as it improves quality of life in general and might mitigate the side effects of drug treatment. For patients with multiple myeloma in particular, significantly less evidence on the effectiveness of exercise therapy is available due to the fact that this disease is associated with severe bone degradation which might affect bone stability. Advances in oncologic drug treatment have improved overall survival in multiple myeloma significantly. Therefore, there is an increased interest for recommendations on physical activity in this patient group. Due to uncertainties regarding safety and feasibility of exercise therapy in multiple myeloma, both patients and therapists often remain hesitant. Therefore, an orthopaedic outpatient clinic has been established at the Myeloma Center of Heidelberg University Hospital. Here, patients receive consultation on bone stability and individualized physical exercise plans. Based on the expertise gained at the orthopaedic outpatient clinic, the aim of this study is to establish and evaluate structural measures for improved rehabilitation in multiple myeloma and to integrate them into routine clinical care.