Role of Nutrition and Physical Therapy in Maintaining Fat Free Mass and Muscle Strength During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Identifier

4803

Author

Courtney Melissa Nordhus

Date

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Clinical Nutrition

Committee Chair

Ruth Williams-Hooker

Committee Member

Chad Touchberry

Committee Member

Karen Ringwald-Smith

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a pediatric cancer treatment, but malnutrition and fat free mass (FFM) loss during the process induce negative outcomes. Tracking changes in body composition, physical activity, and handgrip strength (HGS) may determine the effectiveness of current nutrition and physical therapy in maintaining FFM. This prospective quality improvement study of 9 participants receiving first-time HSCT considered bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and HGS data at intake and discharge with nutrition, physical activity, medication administration, and incidence of graft versus host disease (GVHD) throughout admission.An overall loss of weight, FFM, and right and left HGS (p=0.009; p=0.020) and increased fat mass and body fat percentage were observed.Most participants discharged with worsened nutrition diagnoses. No participant experienced GVHD. No relationships were found between participant characteristics, steroid administration, appetite stimulant administration, or nutrition route.A small sample set precluded conclusive observations and necessitates further research in this area.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Recommended Citation

Nordhus, Courtney Melissa, "Role of Nutrition and Physical Therapy in Maintaining Fat Free Mass and Muscle Strength During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation" (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1527.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/1527