title: Exercise prevents fatigue and improves quality of life in prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Care Line (Radiotherapy Section), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston TX, USA.
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Garber
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thornby
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vallbona
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kerrigan
authors.forename: Trilok N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: Kuno P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
mesh_terms: 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*