EFFECTS OF COMBINED EXERCISE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIABLES IN CANCER PATIENTS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a short-term combined exercise intervention program on perceived self-efficacy, fatigue, lower back flexibility, balance and task specific functional mobility in cancer patients. Fifteen patients met all the eligibility criteria and were assigned to a single training group (range age, 22-75 years) that performed an 8-week intervention program (~60min, 2d·wk-1). Each session included a progressive training of cardiorespiratory, resistance, flexibility and postural education exercises. Measures pre-intervention and post-intervention included psychological and physiological measurements. Adherence to training was high (92.3±5.2%) and no major health problem were noted in the participants over the 8 weeks. Measures of fatigue have significantly decreased (p<0.001; -27.7%) and perceived capability to regulate negative affect (p < 0.001; +18.2%) and to express positive emotions (p = 0.003; +11.8%) improved between the pre- and post-study measurements. Highly significant increases were observed in the trunk lateral flexibility test (L: p<0.001; -13.2%; R: p<0.001; -12.8%), stork balance stand test (L: p<0.001, +30.1%; R: p<0.001, +66.7%), and in the number of standing up and sitting down from a chair within 30 seconds (p