Influence of Exergaming on the Perception of Cancer-Related Fatigue

Exercise is recommended for cancer patients to reduce fatigue and improve quality of life. This study's aim is to evaluate the influence of an exergaming protocol on cancer-related fatigue, muscle fatigue, and muscle strength in cancer patients.

We conducted a quasi-experimental control study using exergaming in all groups through an Xbox360 Kinect™ console, two to three times per week, for 20 sessions. Three groups were created: cancer patients in chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy group (CRG; n:15), cancer patients after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (CAG; n:15), and a control group (CG; n:15). They were assessed for cancer-related fatigue using the fatigue subscale of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaire. To assess dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscle functioning, we used median frequency (MDF) of the surface electromyography and muscle strength using a dynamometer. The assessments were performed preintervention (EV0), after 10 sessions (EV1), and after 20 sessions (EV2).

With an exergaming protocol, CRG and CAG showed a reduction in related fatigue compared with CG (P < 0.01). The CRG group saw an increase in maximal voluntary isometric contraction in right plantar flexor muscles and dorsiflexor muscles, as well as an increase in the MDF of both medial gastrocnemius muscles and the left tibialis anterior muscle of the CAG. For other analyses done, the differences were observed during exergaming.

Exergaming demonstrated efficacy in reducing cancer patients' fatigue, including muscle fatigue, and increasing muscle strength in patients' legs.