Physical functioning and quality of life after cancer rehabilitation.
In order to overcome cancer-related problems and to improve quality of life, an intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme for cancer patients was developed. We hypothesised that this six-week intensive rehabilitation programme would result in physiological improvements and improvement in quality of life. Thirty-four patients with cancer-related physical and psychosocial problems were the subjects of a prospective observational study. A six-week intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme consisted of four components: individual exercise, sports, psycho-education, and information. Measurements (symptom-limited bicycle ergometry performance, muscle force and quality of life [RAND-36, RSCL, MFI]) were performed before (T0) and after six weeks of rehabilitation (T1). After the intensive rehabilitation programme, statistically significant improvements were found in symptom-limited bicycle ergometry performance, muscle force, and several domains of the RAND-36, RSCL and MFI. The six-week intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme had immediate beneficial effects on physiological variables, on quality of life and on fatigue.
van Weert
E
E
Department of Rehabilitation, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. Evw@IKN.nl
Hoekstra-Weebers
J E H M
JE
Grol
B M F
BM
Otter
R
R
Arendzen
J H
JH
Postema
K
K
van der Schans
C P
CP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome