Virtual Rehabilitation for Post Bone Marrow Transplant Recovery

Overseen By Muna Qayed, MD, MsCR

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Emory University

Disqualifiers: Physical impediment, Non-English-speaking

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 25

Duration: 12 weeks

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a virtual rehabilitation program can enhance recovery for children and young adults following a bone marrow transplant. The focus is on improving physical functioning and quality of life, particularly for those experiencing chronic GVHD, a condition affecting multiple organs post-transplant. Participants will engage in online exercise sessions with a physical therapist twice a week for 12 weeks. The trial is open to individuals aged 8 to 23, at least 100 days post-transplant, who have been cleared for exercise and have internet access. As an unphased trial, participants contribute to innovative research that could improve recovery for future patients.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this virtual rehabilitation program is safe for children post-HCT?

Past studies have found virtual rehabilitation programs for stem cell transplant patients to be safe and effective. Research shows that these programs, using online platforms for physical therapy, aid recovery without requiring travel. This is particularly beneficial for those unable to attend in-person sessions due to distance or health issues.

Another study found virtual exercise programs to be mostly safe and acceptable, helping patients overcome common barriers to care. Direct communication with a physical therapist through these programs has provided personalized attention and support. Overall, these findings suggest that virtual rehabilitation is a well-tolerated option for enhancing recovery and quality of life in transplant patients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about virtual rehabilitation for post bone marrow transplant recovery because it introduces a novel approach to patient care. Unlike traditional rehabilitation, which often requires patients to travel to healthcare facilities, this is delivered entirely through a virtual platform, making it more accessible and convenient. This method could significantly enhance patient engagement and adherence to rehabilitation exercises, potentially leading to better recovery outcomes. Additionally, the virtual format allows for personalized and continuous monitoring, offering a tailored recovery plan that can adjust to the patient's progress.

What evidence suggests that this virtual rehabilitation program is effective for post bone marrow transplant recovery?

Research has shown that virtual rehabilitation programs can enhance physical abilities and quality of life for patients who have undergone hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). For instance, one study on exercise programs supported by telemedicine showed promising results in boosting physical abilities and overall well-being. Another study found that online exercise and mindfulness sessions had positive effects both in the short term and long term. This trial will evaluate a virtual exercise and rehabilitation program specifically for children recovering from HCT, as it might help them get stronger and feel better without needing to travel to a clinic. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Muna Qayed, MD, MsCR

Principal Investigator

Emory University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children and young adults aged 8-21 who are at least 100 days post bone marrow transplant. They should be cleared for exercise, have internet access, and a device to participate in virtual rehab sessions. Kids under 14 need a caregiver's help during exercises. Non-English speakers and those with physical impediments to exercise cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 8 and 21 years old and had a bone marrow transplant over 100 days ago.

Patients should have access to devices and a reliable internet connection

I am between 8-14 years old and have a caregiver to help me with my exercises.

Exclusion Criteria

Any physical impediment to exercise as evaluated by the treating physician

Non-English speaking patients (due to a lack of available interpreters through the telemedicine platform)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a virtual rehabilitation program with twice weekly half-hour online sessions for 12 weeks

12 weeks

24 virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical functioning and quality of life after the rehabilitation program

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person) at the end of the program and approximately 3 months later

Long-term follow-up

Assessment of feasibility and adherence rate of the rehabilitation program over an extended period

Up to 4 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Virtual Rehabilitation

Trial Overview The study tests if a virtual rehabilitation program can improve physical function and quality of life in pediatric patients after hematopoietic transplantation (HCT), including those with chronic GVHD. It involves twice-weekly online sessions with a therapist over three months, plus assessments.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Virtual exercise and rehabilitation program Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Trial of exercise and rehabilitation program delivered via a virtual platform for patients undergoing HCT at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Emory University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

Incyte Corporation

Industry Sponsor

Trials

408

Recruited

66,800+

Steven Stein

Incyte Corporation

Chief Medical Officer since 2015

MD from University of Witwatersrand

Hervé Hoppenot

Incyte Corporation

Chief Executive Officer since 2014

MBA from ESSEC Business School

Published Research Related to This Trial

Virtual and augmented reality environments are being effectively used for rehabilitation, helping individuals with various impairments, such as balance and attention, especially in children with brain injuries.

The shift from commercial gaming systems to specialized rehabilitation technologies indicates a growing trend in using advanced virtual reality and motion tracking to enhance therapy outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Rehabilitation with Children: Challenges for Clinical Adoption [From the Field]. Glegg, S.[2018]

Telehealth-based rehabilitation interventions show promise in improving disability outcomes for pediatric cancer survivors, with nine unique interventions identified, including methods like telephone, mobile health apps, and videoconferencing.

Three of the studies reviewed reported statistically and clinically significant improvements, highlighting the potential effectiveness of telehealth in this area, though more robust trials are needed to establish best practices and consistent outcome measures.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Systematic Review of Telehealth-Based Pediatric Cancer Rehabilitation Interventions on Disability. Skiba, MB., Wells, SJ., Brick, R., et al.[2023]

The CaRE-4-alloBMT program, a 6-month rehabilitation initiative for patients undergoing allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation, includes personalized exercise plans and remote monitoring, aiming to improve patient outcomes and support during recovery.

This phase II randomized controlled trial will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the program in 80 patients, providing valuable insights for future larger-scale studies on rehabilitation after alloBMT.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A longitudinal multidimensional rehabilitation program for patients undergoing allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation (CaRE-4-alloBMT): Protocol for a phase II feasibility pilot randomized controlled trial. Tam, S., Kumar, R., Lopez, P., et al.[2023]

A study involving 58 patients who underwent stem cell transplantation found no significant difference in physical functioning or quality of life between those who participated in a healthcare professional-led rehabilitation program and those who managed their rehabilitation independently.

Both rehabilitation methods were equally effective, suggesting that a flexible approach where patients can choose their rehabilitation options may be beneficial in meeting individual needs after stem cell transplantation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rehabilitation programme after stem cell transplantation: randomized controlled trial. Bird, L., Arthur, A., Niblock, T., et al.[2019]

The VirTele intervention, a remote rehabilitation program using virtual reality exergames and telerehabilitation, showed promise in empowering stroke survivors to improve their upper extremity deficits at home, with a structured program involving 30 minutes of exergame use five times a week and regular clinician support.

Key factors influencing the use of VirTele included the perceived usefulness of the technology, ease of use, family support, and effective communication, highlighting the importance of motivational techniques used by clinicians to enhance adherence and engagement in rehabilitation activities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lessons Learned From Clinicians and Stroke Survivors About Using Telerehabilitation Combined With Exergames: Multiple Case Study. Allegue, DR., Sweet, SN., Higgins, J., et al.[2022]

The REWIRE platform for autonomous telerehabilitation demonstrated safety with no adverse events reported during a 12-week study involving 15 stroke patients, indicating it is a secure option for home-based rehabilitation.

Participants showed high compliance with the program, completing an average of 71% of scheduled sessions, and reported excellent acceptance of the system, suggesting it is both effective and well-received for improving balance and gait at home.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Autonomous rehabilitation at stroke patients home for balance and gait: safety, usability and compliance of a virtual reality system. Held, JP., Ferrer, B., Mainetti, R., et al.[2022]

A study involving six individuals post-stroke showed that a telerehabilitation application integrated with virtual reality (VR) maintained patient performance during a four-week training program, even when the therapist was remote in the final week.

Technical assessments indicated that the system's communication was effective, with suitable bandwidth and low lag, supporting the feasibility of remote VR-based rehabilitation without negatively impacting patient outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Technical and patient performance using a virtual reality-integrated telerehabilitation system: preliminary finding. Deutsch, JE., Lewis, JA., Burdea, G.[2016]

Telerehabilitation utilizes digital technologies to deliver a wide range of rehabilitation services, including evaluation, monitoring, and education, making it accessible across various patient populations and settings such as homes and clinics.

The guidelines developed by the American Telemedicine Association aim to help practitioners provide effective and secure telerehabilitation services based on client needs and current evidence, promoting the development of discipline-specific standards.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

American Telemedicine Association's Principles for Delivering Telerehabilitation Services. Richmond, T., Peterson, C., Cason, J., et al.[2022]

During the first 5 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, ALYN-Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital successfully provided online rehabilitation services to 147 young people, delivering a total of 2392 therapy sessions across various disciplines, which were well-received by patients, parents, and therapists.

The study suggests that a hybrid model combining in-person and online therapy could be the most effective approach for young people with chronic disabilities, as the majority found tele-rehabilitation beneficial and effective.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lessons Learned during a Naturalistic Study of Online Treatment for Pediatric Rehabilitation. Gefen, N., Steinhart, S., Beeri, M., et al.[2021]

Advancements in virtual reality (VR) technology are making it more accessible for rehabilitation, allowing for controlled environments that can target various physical, psychological, and cognitive issues.

The potential for Internet-based VR applications could revolutionize home-based therapy, increasing patient engagement and improving outcomes, although several challenges must be addressed before widespread implementation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The challenge of using virtual reality in telerehabilitation. Rizzo, AA., Strickland, D., Bouchard, S.[2004]

A systematic review of six randomized controlled trials involving 368 patients found that telerehabilitation for shoulder pain shows no significant difference in effectiveness compared to in-person physical therapy or home-based exercise programs.

However, telerehabilitation was found to be more effective than providing advice alone, significantly improving both shoulder pain and disability, although the overall evidence quality was very low to low, indicating caution in making strong recommendations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of physical therapy given by telerehabilitation on pain and disability of individuals with shoulder pain: A systematic review. Gava, V., Ribeiro, LP., Barreto, RPG., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-hematopoietic-cell-transplant-6-2023-19a91

Virtual Rehabilitation for Post Bone Marrow Transplant ... Trial Overview The study tests if a virtual rehabilitation program can improve physical function and quality of life in pediatric patients after hematopoietic ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11895824/

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Virtually Delivered Exercise ... This multicenter trial aimed to assess the short- and long-term effects of an exercise and mindfulness intervention delivered by telehealth.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12335289/

Telemedicine-Supported Exercise Interventions in ... Telemedicine-supported exercise interventions are feasible and show promise in improving physical function and quality of life for hematopoietic ...

4. connect.careboxhealth.com connect.careboxhealth.com/en-US/trial/listing/410895

Virtual Rehabilitation in HCT - Carebox Connect More Information. Official Title. A Pilot Study of Virtual Rehabilitation After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. Estimated trial completion date. Aug 1, 2027.

5. clinconnect.io clinconnect.io/trials/NCT05943964

Virtual Rehabilitation in HCT (NCT05943964) - ClinConnect The study aims to see if online exercise sessions with a physical therapist can help improve physical functioning and overall well-being for these young ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11856893/

Feasibility and effects of the telerehabilitation program ... This study showed that the telerehabilitation program may be helpful for patients undergoing HSCT. Direct communication with a physical therapist helped ...

7. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.24.00333

RCT: Virtual Exercise/Stress Mgt for Transplant Survivors This multicenter trial aimed to assess the short- and long-term effects of an exercise and mindfulness intervention delivered by telehealth.

8. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2025/02210/feasibility_and_effects_of_the_telerehabilitation.29.aspx

Feasibility & Effects of Telerehabilitation in Stem Cell Transplant This study aims to identify the feasibility and effects of the telerehabilitation program for patients with hematologic cancer who underwent hematopoietic stem ...