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The effect of in-patient chest physiotherapy in lung cancer patients

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Abstract

Goals of work

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of the in-patient chest physiotherapy (ICP) in patients with lung cancer.

Patients and methods

Eighteen patients with stage IIIA, IIIB, or IV lung cancer (3 females and 15 males) were included. The demographic characteristics and the clinical history of the patients were recorded. Pain (visual analog scale), pulmonary function (pulmonary function test), functional capacity (6-min walking test, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scale), and health-related quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)) parameters were evaluated. The ICP program, including breathing control, breathing exercises, relaxation training, upper and lower extremity exercises, mobilization, and transcutaneous nerve stimulation, was designed to meet each patient’s individual needs.

Main results

After the exercise program, there was a significant decrease in the severity of the dyspnea, fatigue, and pain symptoms (p < 0.05), improvement in the physical mobility, pain, energy, emotional status and sleep subcategories of the NHP (p ≤ 0.05), and increase in the 6-min walking distance (75 ± 15.95 m, p = 0.003). However, pulmonary function test results and KPS scores did not show statistically significant changes (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

ICP programs may be beneficial to lung cancer patients by reducing respiratory symptoms, pain, and improving health-related quality of life and exercise capacity. For this reason, the results of this study suggest that ICP programs, which are prepared by taking the individual requirements of lung cancer patients, should be placed in the treatment of the lung cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, Izmir, 35340, Turkey

    Sevgi Ozalevli, Duygu Ilgin & Hayriye Kul Karaali

  2. Department of Chest Diseases, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, Izmir, 35340, Turkey

    Serpil Bulac & Atilla Akkoclu

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  1. Sevgi Ozalevli
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  2. Duygu Ilgin
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Correspondence to Sevgi Ozalevli.

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Ozalevli, S., Ilgin, D., Kul Karaali, H. et al. The effect of in-patient chest physiotherapy in lung cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 18, 351–358 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0659-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0659-6

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