Background: Chemotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) can lead to significant side effects and complications. Exercises during chemoradiotherapy have potential to reduce complications and fatigue and improve quality of life. The aim of the randomised clinical study was to investigate the benefits of resistance exercise during chemoradiotherapy in NPC patients.
Methods: A total of 146 patients were randomised to perform resistance or relaxation exercises during chemoradiotherapy. Resistance exercise consisted of eight machine-based progressive resistance exercises, and relaxation control consisted of progressive muscle relaxation. Side effects and complications were analysed, and fatigue was assessed by Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF) scores. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLQ30) scale was used to evaluate the effects of resistance exercise or relaxation control on quality of life. Per-protocol analysis was performed on the collected data.
Results: Resistance exercise has stronger effects than relaxation in reducing complications, including oral mucositis, mouth-opening difficulties, xerostomia, hearing loss and nasal congestion, and alleviating both physical fatigue and mental fatigue. The improvement in quality of life was also more prominent among patients performing resistance exercise.
Conclusions: For NPC patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy, resistance exercise has a better efficacy in reducing complications, alleviating fatigue and improving quality of life.
Keywords: chemoradiotherapy; nasopharyngeal cancer; randomised controlled trial; relaxation exercise; resistance exercise.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.