Platelets of 22,000 would permit which form of exercise?

• A. Resistive exercise
• B. No exercise
• C. Only passive range of motion
• D. High-intensity training

Answer: (A)

When platelets are low, there’s a higher risk of bleeding from even minor tissue trauma, so exercise is graded to minimize that risk. A count around 22,000 is thrombocytopenic but not severely low, so the goal is to preserve function without provoking bleeding. Very light, supervised resistive exercise can be allowed to help maintain muscle strength and joint stability, provided there is no active bleeding, no mucosal bleeding, and the intensity is kept low. Use minimal resistance, avoid heavy lifting or maximal efforts, and monitor closely for any signs of bleeding (easy bruising, petechiae, nosebleeds, gum bleeding). If any bleeding occurs, skip resistance work and reassess with medical input. Gentle activity such as light ROM or assisted movements can be integrated, but high-intensity training or unstructured resistance would be avoided at this level.