Rehabilitation in patients with radically treated respiratory cancer: A randomised controlled trial comparing two training modalities

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 38. m (95% CI 22-54) and increased with a mean of 95. m (95% CI 58-132) in CRT ( p< 0.0001), 37. m (95% CI -1-76) in WBVT ( p= 0.06) and 1. m (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 54. m 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.SCOPUS: ar.j