Effects of an endurance and resistance exercise program on persistent cancer-related fatigue after treatment.
BACKGROUND
Fatigue is a relevant problem of cancer patients during and after treatment. Several studies have shown that exercise can improve quality of life and functional status of cancer patients undergoing chemo- or radiotherapy. However, there is a lack of information about the effects of this intervention on persistent cancer-related fatigue. Therefore, we assessed the effects of an exercise program on cancer-related fatigue after treatment.


METHODS
A consecutive series of 32 cancer patients with mild to severe persistent fatigue [scores on the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) > 25] participated in a 3-week exercise program consisting of endurance (30 min walking on a treadmill) and resistance/coordination exercises for the major muscle groups. Fatigue, mood, and anxiety were assessed with questionnaires and physical performance with a stress test before and after the program.


RESULTS
At the end of the program, we observed a significant increase of physical performance (workload at the anaerobic threshold pre 61 +/- 26 W, post 78 +/- 31 W, P < 0.0001) and reduction of global fatigue (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: pre 45.7 +/- 13.4, post 52.6 +/- 12.4, P < 0.0001; BFI: pre 37.9 +/- 18.3, post 31.2 +/-17.1, P < 0.001). However, no significant improvement of cognitive fatigue or reduction of anxiety was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
A 3-week exercise program leads to a substantial improvement of physical performance and reduction of mental and physical fatigue in cancer patients after treatment. However, this intervention does not affect depression, anxiety, or cognitive fatigue.
Dimeo
F
F
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: fernando.dimeo@charite.de.
Schwartz
S
S
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Wesel
N
N
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Voigt
A
A
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Thiel
E
E
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D010807:Physical Endurance