Physical Activity and Fatigue During Radiation Therapy: A Pilot Study Using Actigraph Monitors

Purpose/Objectives: To describe the relationship of patterns of physical activity and fatigue during radiation therapy.

Design: Prospective, descriptive, repeated measures, pilot study.

Setting: Outpatient radiation oncology clinic at a large medical center. SAMPLE: Seven adult subjects with cancer who received a six-week course of external beam radiation therapy to the trunk (including breast, chest, or abdomen).

Methods: Wrist actigraphs were used to measure physical activity for 72 hours during the second and fifth weeks of therapy. The Fatigue-Inertia and Vigor-Activity subscales of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Linear Analogue Scale-Fatigue (LAS-F) were used to measure perceptions of fatigue at the beginning and the end of the week of the two collection periods. The Symptom Distress Scale (SDS) assessed symptom severity. Subjects recorded their physical activities in a five-day diary.

Main Research Variables: Physical activity, fatigue, and six-week course of external beam radiation therapy.

Findings: Physical activity levels were highest at the end of the week at both week two and week five. As measured by POMS and LAS-F, perception of fatigue decreased at the end of the week. SDS showed minimal change in symptom distress.

Conclusions: Contrary to expectations, activity increased during treatment and fatigue decreased. This agrees with current work supporting the benefits of exercise during cancer treatment.

Implications for Nursing Practice: Physical activity during treatment, as compared to inactivity, may help to reduce fatigue.