Functional capacity and physical activity level of patients with primary lung, head and neck Cancer submitted to a home based exercise training with semi supervision

Abstract

Lung and head and/or neck cancers have high incidence and mortality worldwide and in Brazil. Pharmacological treatments for cancer, which can be radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, cause side effects that lead to physical inactivity, reducing functional capacity and the level of physical activity. Therefore, the association of the usual cancer treatment with combined aerobic and resistance training can be used to reduce impacts resulting from these treatments. Objective: To evaluate the functional capacity and level of physical activity of patients with lung cancer and primary head and/or neck undergoing cancer treatment associated with semi-supervised home combined training. Methods: Patients with primary lung or head and/or neck cancer will be randomized into a training group (TG) or control group (CG). The TG will perform cancer treatment (radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy) associated with semi-supervised home-based combined training. The training will start one week before the beginning of the cancer treatment, it will be maintained during the treatment and for another two weeks after the end. The GC will only undergo cancer treatment. TG and GC will be evaluated one week before the start of cancer treatment and two weeks after completion. Functional capacity and level of physical activity will be evaluated. Statistical analysis: data normality will be verified by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. For the intra-group and inter-group analysis of the baseline and final moments of TG and CG, the Student t-test or Mann-Whitney test will be used, depending on the normality of the data.(AU)