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Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2): 145-153, 2015. As a result of various cancer treatments, balance, fall risk, and quality of life (QOL) of cancer survivors are often negatively compromised. There has been no prior research conducted examining balance ability and its association with QOL in cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether improved balance will positively influence QOL. Eight female cancer patients (age 55.8 ± 11.8 yrs.) volunteered for an experimental group, and five sex-matched cancer patients (age 64.5 ± 4.6 yrs.) volunteered for a control group. A 4-week balance program, employed twice per week and consisting of 5 different exercises, was utilized with the experimental group participants. Measures of balance and fall risk were obtained using a balance system (Biodex SD 950-440). QOL was assessed by employing the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) survey. Alpha level of .05 was used for all statistical analyses. There was no significant relationship between QOL and fall risk (r=.08, p=.790). A two-way ANOVA demonstrated significant group difference in QOL, but not time. More specifically, control group had higher QOL score than did experimental group. A second two-way ANOVA shows no significant difference in fall risk between groups nor time. Due to a lack of improvement in balance from pre- to post-tests, we did not examine an improvement in QOL scores among cancer patients. Further research needs to be completed to more appropriately measure improvements in balance and a longer-term intervention.

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