ABSTRACT
This case report describes the effect of exercise therapy on a patient with plasmacytoma diagnosed with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). A man in his mid 70s was diagnosed with plasmacytoma and received outpatient chemotherapy. He developed glove-and-stocking numbness and balance disorder and underwent 16-week multimodal exercise therapy consisting of resistance and balance training, and aerobic exercise. He attended one session per week of exercise therapy at a hospital under the supervision of a physical therapist and completed five sessions of home-based exercise. His symptoms and physical function were evaluated at baseline and after intervention using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Neurotoxicity subscale (FACT-Ntx), modified Total Neuropathy Score (mTNS), Stand-up test, and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). After the 16-week intervention, clinician-assessed CIPN symptoms were stable (CTCAE：Grade 2 at baseline, Grade 2 after intervention), whereas patient-reported CIPN symptoms improved beyond the minimal clinically important difference (FACT-Ntx score increased from 22 to 29 points). Although the components of mTNS such as motor symptoms and strength improved, the total mTNS score remained stable. The Stand-up test and BBS scores improved, and better physical function led to improvements in activities of daily living. Thus, exercise therapy may effectively reduce the symptom burden and improve physical function in patients with CIPN.
ABSTRACT
This case report describes the effect of exercise therapy on a patient with plasmacytoma diagnosed with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). A man in his mid 70s was diagnosed with plasmacytoma and received outpatient chemotherapy. He developed glove-and-stocking numbness and balance disorder and underwent 16-week multimodal exercise therapy consisting of resistance and balance training, and aerobic exercise. He attended one session per week of exercise therapy at a hospital under the supervision of a physical therapist and completed five sessions of home-based exercise. His symptoms and physical function were evaluated at baseline and after intervention using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Neurotoxicity subscale (FACT-Ntx), modified Total Neuropathy Score (mTNS), Stand-up test, and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). After the 16-week intervention, clinician-assessed CIPN symptoms were stable (CTCAE：Grade 2 at baseline, Grade 2 after intervention), whereas patient-reported CIPN symptoms improved beyond the minimal clinically important difference (FACT-Ntx score increased from 22 to 29 points). Although the components of mTNS such as motor symptoms and strength improved, the total mTNS score remained stable. The Stand-up test and BBS scores improved, and better physical function led to improvements in activities of daily living. Thus, exercise therapy may effectively reduce the symptom burden and improve physical function in patients with CIPN.