A Home-Based Exercise Program to Improve Function, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality in Patients With Stage IV Lung and Colorectal Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Journal of pain and symptom management 2013-05, Vol.45 (5), p.811-821
• Main Authors: Cheville, Andrea L., MD, MSCE, Kollasch, Jenny, PT, Vandenberg, Justin, PT, Shen, Tiffany, MS, Grothey, Axel, MD, Gamble, Gail, MD, Basford, Jeffrey R., MD, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Anesthesia & Perioperative Care; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - complications; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - rehabilitation; Exercise; Exercise Therapy - methods; Fatigue; Fatigue - etiology; Fatigue - rehabilitation; Female; function; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Home based; Home Care Services; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - complications; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver Neoplasms - rehabilitation; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; mobility; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Neoplasm Staging; Pain Medicine; Palliative Care - methods; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pneumology; Quality of Life; Recovery of Function; Sleep problems; Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - rehabilitation; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Terminal Care - methods; Therapy; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum
• ISSN: 0885-3924; 1873-6513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2012.05.006

Abstract Context Exercise benefits patients with cancer, but studies of home-based approaches, particularly among those with Stage IV disease, remain small and exploratory. Objectives To conduct an adequately powered trial of a home-based exercise intervention that can be facilely integrated into established delivery and reimbursement structures. Methods Sixty-six adults with Stage IV lung or colorectal cancer were randomized, in an eight-week trial, to usual care or incremental walking and home-based strength training. The exercising participants were instructed during a single physiotherapy visit and subsequently exercised four days or more per week; training and step-count goals were advanced during bimonthly telephone calls. The primary outcome measure was mobility assessed with the Ambulatory Post Acute Care Basic Mobility Short Form. Secondary outcomes included ratings of pain and sleep quality as well as the ability to perform daily activities (Ambulatory Post Acute Care Daily Activities Short Form), quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General), and fatigue (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue). Results Three participants dropped out and seven died (five in the intervention and two in the control group, P = 0.28). At Week 8, the intervention group reported improved mobility ( P = 0.01), fatigue ( P = 0.02), and sleep quality ( P = 0.05) compared with the usual care group, but did not differ on the other measures. Conclusion A home-based exercise program seems capable of improving the mobility, fatigue, and sleep quality of patients with Stage IV lung and colorectal cancer.