{
  "abstract": "Background: Hematological malignancies and their treatment frequently cause fatigue, reduced physical capacity, neuropathy, pain and impaired quality of life. Exercise-based rehabilitation is increasingly recognized as part of the care of patients with hematological malignancies, whereas the role and safety of spa-based interventions, such as balneotherapy, hydrotherapy and peloidotherapy, remain uncertain. Methods: A critical narrative review of PubMed was performed. Evidence obtained in patients with hematological malignancies (direct evidence) was distinguished from evidence obtained in other oncological and non-oncological populations (indirect evidence), and each recommendation was assigned an evidence-certainty label (A–D). Results: No clinical studies evaluating balneotherapy or spa therapy in hematological malignancies were identified. Evidence supports exercise-based and functional rehabilitation for improving physical capacity, fatigue and quality of life, including in selected patients with cytopenias. Evidence for spa-specific procedures is indirect, and the laboratory thresholds used in practice derive from exercise studies and expert opinion rather than from validation for spa-specific procedures. Conclusions: The benefits documented in this population relate to rehabilitation and exercise, which can also be delivered in a spa setting; spa-specific procedures should be regarded as optional adjuncts requiring procedure-specific qualification. As a hypothesis for prospective evaluation, we also outline a framework in which the time-based eligibility criterion used in Poland is supplemented by structured clinical assessment.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Personalized Physiotherapy of the Musculoskeletal System, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 7a Street, 15-096 Bialystok, Poland",
    "Physical Activity Research Laboratory, Clinical Research Center, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Street 24a, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland",
    "Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Ujejskiego Street 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland",
    "Hematology Department, The Ludwik Rydygier Provincial Hospital in Torun, St. Joseph Street 53–59, 87-100 Torun, Poland",
    "Ciechocinek Health Resort, Piłsudskiego Street 3, 87-720 Ciechocinek, Poland",
    "InesFizjo Physiotherapy, Kminkowa 2/4, 80-177 Gdansk, Poland",
    "Direction Health Association, 24 Mickiewicza St., 87-100 Torun, Poland",
    "oncoAlliance, Wawelska Street 15b/3, 04-881 Warsaw, Poland",
    "Initiative for Hematological Rehabilitation, 24 Mickiewicza St., 87-100 Torun, Poland",
    "Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Łukasiewicza Street 1, 85-821 Bydgoszcz, Poland"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Amanda Maria Kostro",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9544-168X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zofia Dzięcioł-Anikiej",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5139-2321"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Marta Sobas"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Maria Czyżewska",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2358-2694"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Jacek Chojnowski"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Agnieszka Staniak",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-8294-0662"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Dominik Romiński"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Adam Kopciewski"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Mariusz Baumgart"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3630zvax0jtsb.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/jcm15218289",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "3630zvax0jtsb",
  "issns": [
    "2077-0383"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8289",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3603|Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223801580",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-24",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3630zvax0jtsb.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:01Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/jcm15218289",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8289"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Balneotherapy and Spa Rehabilitation in Patients with Hematological Malignancies: Current Evidence, Clinical Safety, and a Proposed Qualification Framework—A Critical Narrative Review",
  "title_text": "Balneotherapy and Spa Rehabilitation in Patients with Hematological Malignancies: Current Evidence, Clinical Safety, and a Proposed Qualification Framework—A Critical Narrative Review",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:01Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3630zvax0jtsb",
  "venue": "Journal of Clinical Medicine",
  "versions": []
}