The use of physical exercises in the treatment of cancer patients brings different benefits depending on the initial physical condition of the patient, according to an article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The purpose of exercise during primary cancer treatment, especially chemotherapy, is aimed at preventing reducing the activity and reduce the side effects of treatment, and after treatment to improve functioning. According to studies, the exercises have a positive effect on fatigue, physical fitness, quality of life and physical functioning during and after cancer treatment. However, these effects are often insignificant.
The researchers studied how exercise effect on fatigue, aerobic performance, muscle strength, quality of life and physical fitness in cancer patients, given the original data of these characteristics of health status. Was the combined data from 34 experiments with the use of exercises (a total of 4519 patients) conducted in the framework of the research on Predicting optimal cancer rehabilitation and supportive care.
It was discovered that during treatment effects on aerobic capacity (the body’s ability to perform work, providing the energy consumption due to absorbed during operation of the oxygen) was higher in patients with better baseline aerobic performance. And after treatment the degree of influence on the muscle strength of the upper and lower parts of the body and quality of life were higher in patients with worse initial values.
Although researchers believe that exercise should be performed for most patients with cancer, focusing on specific subgroups may be particularly appropriate. During treatment, patients experienced benefits in muscle strength and quality of life regardless of original values. However, only patients with low baseline values received benefits after treatment.
Regarding the aerobic performance, patients with low baseline values did not receive benefits during treatment. Exercise during treatment was effective for maintaining quality of life and muscle strength in the upper and lower parts of the body, regardless of the underlying value. After treatment exercise, it seems, did not improve the results for patients with relatively high baseline values in these categories.
Unexpected and contradictory was the fact that exercise during cancer treatment had a better effect on aerobic performance in patients with higher baseline aerobic performance. Possible exercises during the intensive therapy of cancer (although they will adapt to the capabilities of the patient) are too complex for patients with low aerobic capacity.
Thus, researchers believe the most useful target of intervention for patients with worse symptoms and quality of life. Our study emphasizes that to optimize results, it is important to carefully consider when and for what purpose should be to offer the intervention, which needs to be subjected to cancer patients, concluded one of the participants, Lauren Bouffard (Laurien Buffart).
Valeria SEMA