Rehabilitation in patients with radically treated respiratory cancer: A randomised controlled trial comparing two training modalities.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of conventional resistance training (CRT) and whole body vibration training (WBVT) on improving 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) in lung cancer patients after radical treatment (RT).
Results Summary
CRT significantly improved 6MWD by 95m (p<0.0001), while WBVT showed a modest increase of 37m (p=0.06). The control group (CON) had no significant change. CRT was more effective than WBVT in restoring functional exercise capacity post-RT.
Population
Lung cancer patients who underwent radical treatment.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
radical treatment (RT) | decrease | exercise capacity | lung cancer patients | - | significantly impairs | #1 |
radical treatment (RT) | decrease | 6-min walking distance (6MWD) | lung cancer patients | mean of 38m (95% CI 22-54) | decreased | #2 |
conventional resistance training (CRT) | increase | 6-min walking distance (6MWD) | lung cancer patients | mean of 95m (95% CI 58-132) | increased | #3 |
whole body vibration (WBV) | increase | 6-min walking distance (6MWD) | lung cancer patients | mean of 37m (95% CI -1-76) | increased | #4 |
standard follow-up (CON) | increase | 6-min walking distance (6MWD) | lung cancer patients | mean of 1m (95% CI -34-36) | increased | #5 |
conventional resistance training (CRT) | increase | functional exercise capacity | lung cancer patients | - | significantly improves and restores | #6 |
whole body vibration (WBV) | no change | - | - | - | does not fully substitute for CRT | #7 |
INTRODUCTION: The evidence on the effectiveness of rehabilitation in lung cancer patients is limited. Whole body vibration (WBV) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional resistance training (CRT). METHODS: We investigated the effect of radical treatment (RT) and of two rehabilitation programmes in lung cancer patients. The primary endpoint was a change in 6-min walking distance (6MWD) after rehabilitation. Patients were randomised after RT to either CRT, WBVT or standard follow-up (CON). Patients were evaluated before, after RT and after 12 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: Of 121 included patients, 70 were randomised to either CON (24), CRT (24) or WBVT (22). After RT, 6MWD decreased with a mean of 38m (95% CI 22-54) and increased with a mean of 95m (95% CI 58-132) in CRT (p<0.0001), 37m (95% CI -1-76) in WBVT (p=0.06) and 1m (95% CI -34-36) in CON (p=0.95), respectively. Surgical treatment, magnitude of decrease in 6MWD by RT and allocation to either CRT or WBVT were prognostic for reaching the minimally clinically important difference of 54m increase in 6MWD after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: RT of lung cancer significantly impairs patients' exercise capacity. CRT significantly improves and restores functional exercise capacity, whereas WBVT does not fully substitute for CRT.