Effects of Exergaming in Cancer Related Fatigue in the Quality of Life and Electromyography of the Middle Deltoid of People with Cancer in Treatment: A Controlled Trial

Oliveira, Paulo Furtado De; Iunes, Denise Hollanda; Alves, Ricardo Silva; Carvalho, Jovana Maria De; Menezes, Flávia Da Silva; Carvalho, Leonardo César

doi:10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.9.2591

Effects of Exergaming in Cancer Related Fatigue in the Quality of Life and Electromyography of the Middle Deltoid of People with Cancer in Treatment: A Controlled Trial

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Motricity Science Institute, Federal University of Alfenas, 2600 Jovino Fernandes Sales Ave, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

² Bioscience Program, Federal University of Alfenas, 2600 Jovino Fernandes Sales Ave, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

³ Rehabilitation Science Program, Federal University of Alfenas, 2600 Jovino Fernandes Sales Ave, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.9.2591

Abstract

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects an exergaming protocol for cancer patients who
undergo or have already undergone cancer treatment. We sought to evaluate changes in cancer-related fatigue, function,
and ability to perform daily activities, in addition to changes in the electromyographic pattern of the middle deltoid
muscle. Methods: We conducted a controlled trial. Nineteen volunteers in the cancer group (aged 61 ± 9 years; body
mass index28 ± 5) and 19 in the control group (aged 58 ± 8 years); body mass index 28 ± 4) participated in the study.
They were evaluated by means of a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the Functional Assessment of Chronic
Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaire, and surface electromyography in the deltoid muscle at three moments: before
the beginning of the exergaming protocol, after 10 training sessions, and after 20 sessions. The protocol consisted of
practicing exergaming using Xbox 360® (Microsoft, Redmond, USA) with Kinect®. The game “Your Shape Fitness
Evolved” (Ubisoft, Rennes, France) was used. Results: Total FACIT-F scores, fatigue subscale scores, and median
frequency values observed in the cancer group were lower than those in the control group. These values improved in
relation to the initial evaluation in the cancer group after the practice of the exergaming protocol. Conclusion: The
exergaming protocol used in this study was effective for reducing reported symptoms of fatigue, increasing perceived
quality of life, and improving the pattern of deltoid muscle contraction in cancer patients.

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