The effect of resistance exercise on quality of life and fatigue in patients with gynecological cancer
Seçkin Şenışık1
, İhsan Yörük1, Ahmet Bilgi2
1Sports Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey
Keywords: Gynecological cancer, fatigue, quality of life, resistance exercise, muscle strength
Abstract
Objective: It is known that the quality of life decreases and fatigue increases in cancer patients due to the disease and the effects of treatment. Regular exercise can significantly improve these complaints. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of resistance exercises on quality of life and fatigue in patients with gynecological cancer.
Materials and Methods: Patients who completed gynecological cancer treatment were randomized to form the exercise group (n=80) and the control group (n=80). Quality of life and cancer-related fatigue were determined by means of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue, in order, as primary outcome measurements. Body mass index (BMI), body fat ratio, hand grip strength, hip and back extensor group muscle strength were determined as secondary outcome measurements.
Results: At the end of the study, significant improvements were observed in the quality of life (p<0.001) and fatigue (p<0.001), as well as body composition and strength values (p<0.001) in the exercise group compared to the control group. The levels of change in the values were more significant in the exercise group (p<0.001). A significant correlation was found between the changes in physical parameters (body fat ratio, BMI) and the changes in quality of life and fatigue levels (p<0.001).
Conclusions: It was revealed that resistance exercises could significantly reduce cancer-related fatigue and improve quality of life in patients with gynecological cancer. It can be concluded that resistance exercises can contribute to the treatment process and the patient’s quality of life.
Cite this article as: enisik S, Yoruk I, Bilgi A. The effect of resistance exercise on quality of life and fatigue in patients with gynecological cancer. Turk J Sports Med. 2022;57(1):44-50; https://doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0607
The approval for this study was obtained from Ege University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision no. 17-5.2/8, Date: 03.07.2017).
Concept All authors; Design All authors; Supervision All authors; Materials All authors; Data Collection and/or Processing AB. Analysis and Interpretation All authors; Literature Review All authors; Writing Manuscript All authors; Critical Reviews All authors
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or publication of this article.
