Dados do Trabalho

Título

EVALUATION OF AEROBIC RESISTANCE IN CANCER SURVIVORS PRACTITIONERS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY UNDERGOING RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT

Introdução

Exercise tests represent a convenient method to analyze cardiorespiratory function for allowing knowledge about the reserves of energy transport systems and, therefore, the understanding of the functional capacities.

Objetivo

To analyze aerobic resistance in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, whether or not they've performed physical exercise programs.

Método

A randomized controlled clinical trial with patients of a philanthropic hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Female patients with breast cancer and male patients with prostate cancer were included. All subjects were about to begin radiotherapy treatment. Patients using medications that caused attention disorders and those with conditions that could compromise the practice of physical activities were excluded. The study included 86 patients: 27 in the female experimental group (FEG – Mean ± Standard Deviation = 54 years ± 6,8), 16 in the female control group (FCG; 52 years ± 6,8), 24 in the male experimental group (MEG; 58 years ± 2,6) and 19 in the male control group (MCG; 59 years ± 1,6). The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was applied to evolution of cardiorespiratory resistance and was conducted on a treadmill - Movement R7 (Brazil). The Shapiro-Wilk (SW) test was used to check the normal distribution of the sample admitting a 5% significance level.

Resultado

Normal distributions were observed for the FEG (SW = 0,734) and FCG (SW = 0,410). The MCG was also distributed normally (SW = 0,108). A non-normal distribution was found in MEG (SW = 0,038). After the intervention, there was an increase of 35,60% in the walk distance in FEG (from 280,00 to 434,81 m) and of 29,40% in MEG (from 332,95 to 471,27 m). However, no differences were found in the distances of the female (263,75 m) and male (248,42 m) control groups, before and after the test.

Conclusão

The increase in the distance walked by groups who practice physical activity suggests a positive impact on the cardiopulmonary performance of this population, which is related to improvements in the functional capacity and quality of life of the individuals.

Palavras-chave

Walk Test; Medical Oncology; Radiotherapy.

Área

Oncologia - Pesquisa Clínica em Oncologia