Feasibility and efficacy of speed-feedback therapy with a bicycle ergometer on cognitive function in elderly cancer patients in Japan

Abstract

Objective: We conducted this study with the aim of demonstrating the feasibility and efficacy of speed-feedback therapy with a bicycle ergometer on cognitive function in elderly cancer patients.

Methods: The subjects were patients with breast or prostate cancer who were 65 years of age or over. Among 146 patients, 78 were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 38) or the control group (n = 40). The intervention group received speed-feedback therapy with a bicycle ergometer once a week for four successive weeks. The control group was advised to spend the 4-week period engaged in their routine activities. Evaluations were carried out at the baseline and 4 weeks after the baseline (week 4) using the Frontal Assessment Battery, the Barthel Index, the Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General ver.4. Data were analyzed by a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Results: The mean score of Frontal Assessment Battery for the intervention group was higher than that for the control group at week 4. In addition to significant main effects of time and group, we also found a significant interaction between the two groups (p = 0.006). Moreover, all of the subjects in the intervention group could complete all the four sessions of therapy without any pain or distress.

Conclusion: These results suggest that speed-feedback therapy with a bicycle ergometer may be feasible as well as effective for improving the cognitive function in elderly cancer patients.

Keywords: cancer; cognitive function; elderly; rehabilitation; speed-feedback therapy.