title: Relationship between cancer-related fatigue and physical activity in inpatient cancer rehabilitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fatigue is a serious problem for the majority of patients with cancer. In this context, several studies have shown benefits of physical activity during and following treatment. However, uncertainties remain regarding the optimal type and duration of physical activity. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between cancer-related fatigue and physical activity in the course of inpatient rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory) and physical activity (Freiburg Questionnaire of Physical Activity) were assessed in a consecutive series of 35 patients with cancer attending oncological inpatient rehabilitation during a six-month study period. The three-week rehabilitation program included daily exercise therapy consisting of aerobic endurance training, moderate resistance training, coordination exercises, relaxation training and individual physiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At discharge, a significant improvement in each dimension of cancer-related fatigue (p=0.001-0.003) and a significant increase of physical activity levels (p=0.001) were observed. A small, but significant negative correlation was found between cancer-related fatigue and the level of physical activity (R=-0.438, p=0.004). The largest effects were associated with a weekly energy expenditure of 3000 kcal through physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results support a non-linear dose-response relationship between cancer-related fatigue and physical activity. Since this is the first study providing specific exercise recommendations for an effective treatment of cancer-related fatigue in the context of inpatient rehabilitation, further research is required to validate the observed trends.
authors.affiliation: German Sports University Cologne, Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine - Section of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine. Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933 Köln, Germany. F.Baumann@dshs-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kummer
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catuogno
authors.forename: Josef M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Perseus
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.forename: Freerk T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Baumann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: Cancer; dose response relationship; fatigue; inpatient rehabilitation; physical activity