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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Sep;25(9):2899-2908.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-017-3742-4. Epub 2017 May 16.

Physiotherapy programme reduces fatigue in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care: randomized controlled trial

Anna Pyszora  1 , Jacek Budzyński  2 , Agnieszka Wójcik  3 , Anna Prokop  4 , Małgorzata Krajnik  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Physiotherapy programme reduces fatigue in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care: randomized controlled trial

Anna Pyszora et al. Support Care Cancer. 2017 Sep.

Erratum in

Abstract

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common and relevant symptom in patients with advanced cancer that significantly decreases their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a physiotherapy programme on CRF and other symptoms in patients diagnosed with advanced cancer.

Methods: The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. Sixty patients diagnosed with advanced cancer receiving palliative care were randomized into two groups: the treatment group (n = 30) and the control group (n = 30). The therapy took place three times a week for 2 weeks. The 30-min physiotherapy session included active exercises, myofascial release and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques. The control group did not exercise. The outcomes included Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and satisfaction scores.

Results: The exercise programme caused a significant reduction in fatigue scores (BFI) in terms of severity of fatigue and its impact on daily functioning. In the control group, no significant changes in the BFI were observed. Moreover, the physiotherapy programme improved patients' general well-being and reduced the intensity of coexisting symptoms such as pain, drowsiness, lack of appetite and depression. The analysis of satisfaction scores showed that it was also positively evaluated by patients.

Conclusion: The physiotherapy programme, which included active exercises, myofascial release and PNF techniques, had beneficial effects on CRF and other symptoms in patients with advanced cancer who received palliative care. The results of the study suggest that physiotherapy is a safe and effective method of CRF management.

Keywords: Cancer-related fatigue; Exercises; Palliative care; Physiotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum, Bydgoszcz, Poland (institutional funding).

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Ethical approval and consent to participate

Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Confidentiality and anonymity were guaranteed. The study protocol was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun (KB 156/2009).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study design
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean change in BFI score from baseline (questions 1–3). Legend: rate your (1) level of fatigue right now, (2) level of fatigue during the past 24 h, and (3) the worst level of fatigue during the past 24 h
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mean change in BFI score from baseline (questions 4a–4f). Legend: rate how fatigue has interfered with the following: 4a—general activity, 4b—mood, 4c—walking ability, 4d—normal work, 4e—relations with other people and 4f—enjoyment of life).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Self-rated severity of symptoms on consecutive observation days (ESAS)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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