Article

Cancer patients, particularly during chemotherapy, often encounter functional
status limitations. This study examines fear of falling, balance, gait and lower
limb strength in cancer patients during ongoing or recently completed (</=12
months) chemotherapeutic treatment in comparison to age-matched and senior
controls (>/=65 years).
Data were obtained from 69 subjects; 21 cancer patients
(51+/-7 years) with histological confirmed diagnosis and two control groups
(2xn=24): one age-matched (53+/-7 years) and one senior group (70+/-3 years).
Fear of falling (FoF) was evaluated using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International
Version. Motor function measurement included postural sway (centre of pressure)
in upright stance with eyes covered, gait speed (comfortable fluid walking) and
maximum voluntary isometric quadriceps strength (MIVF). One-way ANOVA followed by
corrected post hoc paired-sample t-test revealed inferior values in cancer
patients than in age-matched healthy regarding all parameters. Gait speed and
MIVF of cancer patients were higher than in the senior control group (p<.05),
whereas their FoF and postural sway were comparable (p>.05). Physical performance
parameters of cancer patients were found to be lower in comparison to healthy
age-matched subjects. Cancer patients show physical impairments which may limit
independence and may increase fall risk. The present findings call for routine
screening of physical function in cancer patients, and further stress the
relevance of exercise interventions during and after chemotherapy.
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