Multimodal Physical Exercise and Functional Rehabilitation Program in Oncological Patients with Cancer-Related Fatigue-A Randomized Clinical Trial

Eduardo J Fernandez-Rodriguez; Celia Sanchez-Gomez; Roberto Mendez-Sanchez; Jose I Recio-Rodriguez; A Silvia Puente-Gonzalez; Jesus Gonzalez-Sanchez; Juan J Cruz-Hernandez; Maria I Rihuete-Galve

doi:10.3390/ijerph20064938

Multimodal Physical Exercise and Functional Rehabilitation Program in Oncological Patients with Cancer-Related Fatigue-A Randomized Clinical Trial

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Mar 10;20(6):4938. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20064938.

Authors

Eduardo J Fernandez-Rodriguez^{1

2}, Celia Sanchez-Gomez^{2

3}, Roberto Mendez-Sanchez^{1

2}, Jose I Recio-Rodriguez^{1

2}, A Silvia Puente-Gonzalez^{1

2}, Jesus Gonzalez-Sanchez^{1

2}, Juan J Cruz-Hernandez^{2

4

5}, Maria I Rihuete-Galve^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
² Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
³ Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Salamanca, 37005 Salamanca, Spain.
⁴ Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
⁵ Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.

Abstract

The increase in life expectancy and survival time implies an increase in the possible side-effects of pharmacological treatments in patients. Cancer-related fatigue is one of these side-effects. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a multimodal program of physical exercise and functional rehabilitation on asthenia, pain, functional capacity, and quality of life in cancer patients with cancer-related fatigue.

Methods: This was a randomized, parallel-controlled clinical trial, with two arms (experimental and control group), and it was conducted over the course of a year in the Oncology Hospitalization Unit at the University Hospital of Salamanca, Spain. Participants (n = 48) were assessed at three points during the study. The first assessment was prior to hospital discharge, the second assessment was after 15 days, and the final assessment was at one month post-hospital follow-up. The intervention lasted one month. The main variables studied were the dependency levels (Barthel), cancer-related fatigue (FACT-An), health-related quality of life (EuroQoL-5D), functional capacity (SPPB), and kinesiophobia (TSK-F).

Results: Sample size (n = 44). Mean age 63.46 ± 12.36 years. Significant differences between control and experimental group participants in Barthel, FACT-An, TSK-F, and SPPB scores at follow-up and final assessment.

Conclusions: There are beneficial effects of a multimodal physical exercise and functional rehabilitation program in improving the autonomy of cancer-related fatigue patients.

Keywords: cancer; disability; exercise; multidisciplinary; quality of life; rehabilitation.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Combined Modality Therapy
Exercise Therapy*
Fatigue / etiology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms* / complications
Neoplasms* / rehabilitation
Physical Therapy Modalities*
Quality of Life
Treatment Outcome

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Regional Health Management of Castilla y León, Spain. Research projects in biomedicine, health management and social and health care, grant number GRS 2181/A/2020.