Exercise and perceived quality of life duringsurvivorship: a pilot study comparing traditional and non-traditional cancer recovery programs

摘要

PURPOSE: To determine if cancer survivors could increase their perceived QOLusing a non-traditional exercise and cancer recovery program consisting of resistancetubing, balance balls, and hand-weights. A second purpose was to compare perceivedQOL ratings between survivors using a traditional versus non-traditional exerciseprogram. METHODS: Sixty cancer survivors were assigned into two weight traininggroups (traditional and non-traditional). Participants were given a pre and post-testassessment using the FACT-G scale, designed to measure QOL ratings in a cancerpopulation. Participants worked out for 12 weeks, two times per week for 30 to 60minutes using individually prescribed exercise programs. The traditional group usedvarious machines, while the non-traditional group used resistance tubing, stabilityballs, etc. RESULTS: Cancer survivors using the non-traditional training programsignificantly increased their perceived QOL, F(1, 58), = 5.61, p = .021. Overall,survivors under both conditions significantly increased their perceived QOL, F(1,118) = 7.71, p = .006. CONCLUSIONS: Inexpensive non-traditional equipment can be an ideal way to eliminate exercise barriers such as cost and travel to a facility, while also providing opportunities for cancer survivors to increase perceived QOL.