Körperliche Aktivität bei onkologischen Patienten in palliativer Erkrankungssituation: eine Analyse zur Machbarkeit und Effektivität

Publication: Book/ReportDissertations

Abstract

Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that different physical exercise programs could have beneficial effects on physical performance, quality of life, as well as symptom control in patients treated in curative intention. However, until today, the role of physical activity in patients with advanced cancer during palliative therapy and in terminally ill cancer patients after completion of causal oncologic treatment is insufficiently determined. Nevertheless, small previous studies could show that physical exercise programs might be feasible even in advanced and terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: One aim of the underlying studies was to investigate if patients with advanced cancer undergoing palliative oncologic therapy perform physical activities on a self-instructed basis and if they are interested in participating in adapted physical training programs. Further, the feasibility of resistance and aerobic exercise in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer undergoing palliative chemotherapy and their potential effects on the patients` quality of life, physical performance and biological parameters should be investigated. A subsequent randomized controlled trial will investigate whether these results could be transferred to metastatic lung cancer patients undergoing palliative oncologic therapy. Finally, we systematically evaluated the feasibility of physical exercise and therapy in terminally ill cancer patients treated on a specialized palliative care inpatient ward. Results: About one third of patients with advanced cancer during palliative oncologic therapy were able to perform self-instructed physical activities and more than 60% declared their interest in adapted physical training programs. We could demonstrate that aerobic exercise and resistance training were feasible in patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing palliative chemotherapy without any relevant toxicities and intolerances. The results showed a clear decrease in post-interventional fatigue levels, an increase in sleeping duration and an increase in muscular strength in the resistance training group after 12 weeks training intervention. Patients with higher post-interventional number of steps in daily living showed higher physical and social functioning levels as well as lower scores for pain and fatigue. A total of 74% of all terminally ill cancer patients treated on the palliative care inpatient ward were able to perform physical exercise and / or therapy. Physical exercise and / or therapy were feasible in 90% of the terminally ill cancer patients who were invited to participate. In 50% of patients physical exercises could be performed. Conclusions:´These underlying studies showed that advanced and terminally ill cancer patients were interested in adapted physical training programs. Aerobic and resistance training were feasible in patients with advanced cancer and had potential effects on the patients` quality of life, physical performance and cancer-related symptoms. Further, different modalities of physical exercises and therapies were even feasible in terminally ill cancer patients cared on a palliative care inpatient ward.
Original languageGerman
Place of PublicationKöln
PublisherDeutsche Sporthochschule Köln
Number of pages97
Publication statusPublished - 2014

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