Abstract
Patients with haematological malignancies often receive very aggressive treatment, which in many cases leads to complete remission and a rising proportion of completely cured patients. Despite this, many patients often complain of fatigue, weakness, exhaustion following minimal activity, shortness of breath on exertion as well as other symptoms associated with the deconditionimg syndrome.
These symptoms are perceived very negatively by patients, as they induce a continued feeling of ill health. The deconditioning syndrome is partially caused by the treatment itself together with the aimless physical activity that develops during therapy and continues once this is terminated.
The disease itself and repeated courses of treatment induce a catabolic effect. Physical inactivity moreover leads to loss of cardiopulmonary fitness as well as to loss of active muscle tissue.
Physical training (exercise) is capable of minimising inactivity-related symptoms. Incorporation of these processes into standard care for patients with haematological malignancies is not a routine approach.