Exercise prevents fatigue and improves quality of life in prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To show fatigue prevention and quality of life (QOL) improvement from cardiovascular exercise during radiotherapy.


METHODS
Prospective enrollment (n=21), randomized to exercise (n=11) and control groups (n=10), with pre- and post-radiotherapy between- and within-group comparisons.


METHODS
Academic medical center.


METHODS
Localized prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.


METHODS
The interventional group received radiotherapy plus aerobic exercise 3 times a week for 8 weeks whereas the control group received radiotherapy without exercise.


METHODS
Pre- and post-radiotherapy differences in cardiac fitness, fatigue, depression, functional status, physical, social, and functional well-being, leg strength, and flexibility were examined within and between 2 groups.


RESULTS
No significant differences existed between 2 groups at pre-radiotherapy assessment. At post-radiotherapy assessment, the exercise group showed significant within group improvements in: cardiac fitness (P<.001), fatigue (P=.02), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) (P=.04), physical well-being (P=.002), social well-being (P=.02), flexibility (P=.006), and leg strength (P=.000). Within the control group, there was a significant increase in fatigue score (P=.004) and a decline in social well-being (P<.05) at post-radiotherapy assessment. Between-group differences at post-radiotherapy assessment were significant in cardiac fitness (P=.006), strength (P=.000), flexibility (P<.01), fatigue (P<.001), FACT-P (P=.006), physical well-being (P<.001), social well-being (P=.002), and functional well-being (P=.04).


CONCLUSIONS
An 8-week cardiovascular exercise program in patients with localized prostate cancer undergoing radiotherapy improved cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, muscle strength, and overall QOL and prevented fatigue.
Monga
Uma
U
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Care Line (Radiotherapy Section), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston TX, USA.
Garber
Susan L
SL
Thornby
John
J
Vallbona
Carlos
C
Kerrigan
Anthony J
AJ
Monga
Trilok N
TN
Zimmermann
Kuno P
KP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005221:Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology; D018583:Pliability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*