Maintaining physical activity during head and neck cancer treatment: Results of a pilot controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a 14-week functional resistance and walking program (MPACT) could attenuate declines in strength, mobility, and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
Results Summary
The MPACT group showed attenuated decline or improvement in strength, mobility, physical activity, diet, and QOL, with statistically significant benefits in knee strength, mental health, head and neck QOL, and barriers to exercise compared to controls.
Population
Patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (14-week functional resistance and walking program).
Duration
14 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
concurrent chemoradiotherapy (concurrent CRT) | decrease | weight, mobility, and quality of life (QOL) | patients with head and neck cancer | - | significant reductions | #1 |
functional exercise | decrease | weight, mobility, and quality of life (QOL) | patients with head and neck cancer | - | may attenuate these losses | #2 |
14-week functional resistance and walking program (MPACT) | increase | several strength, mobility, physical activity, diet, and QOL endpoints | MPACT participants | - | had attenuated decline or improvement | #3 |
14-week functional resistance and walking program (MPACT) | increase | knee strength | MPACT participants | - | statistically significant | #4 |
14-week functional resistance and walking program (MPACT) | increase | mental health | MPACT participants | - | statistically significant | #5 |
14-week functional resistance and walking program (MPACT) | increase | head and neck QOL | MPACT participants | - | statistically significant | #6 |
14-week functional resistance and walking program (MPACT) | decrease | barriers to exercise | MPACT participants | - | statistically significant | #7 |
MPACT training | increase | function and QOL | patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concurrent CRT | - | was feasible and maintained or improved | #8 |
BACKGROUND: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (concurrent CRT) to treat head and neck cancer is associated with significant reductions of weight, mobility, and quality of life (QOL). An intervention focusing on functional exercise may attenuate these losses. METHODS: We allocated patients to a 14-week functional resistance and walking program designed to maintain physical activity during cancer treatment (MPACT group; n = 11), or to usual care (control group; n = 9). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, and 7 and 14 weeks. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the MPACT participants had attenuated decline or improvement in several strength, mobility, physical activity, diet, and QOL endpoints. These trends were statistically significant (p < .05) in knee strength, mental health, head and neck QOL, and barriers to exercise. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study of patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concurrent CRT, MPACT training was feasible and maintained or improved function and QOL, thereby providing the basis for larger future interventions with longer follow-up. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1086-E1096, 2016.