Citation

Bahar-Ozdemir Y, Akyuz G, Kalkandelen M, Yumuk F. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Marmara University Medical School, Department of Clinical Oncology, Istanbul, Turkey.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PHM.0000000000001324

PMID

31592877

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of lower extremity strengthening and balance exercises on balance, quality of life (QoL) and neuropathic pain (NP) of the cancer patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy (N-CTX).

DESIGN: Patients who were planning to receive N-CTX agents were included in the first group. They were trained before the N-CTX sessions with the 10-week home-based exercise program including lower extremity strengthening and balance exercises. The second group of patients who had received the 3 cycle of N-CTX had no exercise program. Both groups were evaluated after the 3 cycle. Neurocom Balance Master and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used to evaluate balance. The NP was questioned by PainDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q) and the QoL was assessed with EORTC QLQ-C30.

RESULTS: Sixty patients were admitted to this study. Twenty-four patients were in the exercise group (F=14, M=10) and 36 patients were in the control group (F=17, M=19). Socio-demographic and clinical data of both groups were similar. BBS (p=0.005), EORTC QLQ-C30 global QoL, physical function and emotional status were higher, symptom scores and PD-Q score were lower in the exercise group (p<0.05). Balance tests were different between the groups.

CONCLUSION: Strengthening and balance exercises have a valuable effect on balance, QoL and NP in patients receiving N-CTX.

Language: en