The study aims to evaluate the effects and feasibility of a biofeedback device for physical activity (PA) improvement in breast and colon cancer patients. Daily PA of 19 cancer patients was measured by accelerometry (ActiGraph, GT1M). Additionally, patients wore a motion sensor with real-time visual activity feedback (ActiSmile). Counts per minutes (cpm) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were calculated and patients' activity data were compared to PA of 20 age-matched healthy controls. Baseline PA of patients was lower compared to controls. Following visual real-time feedback cancer patients increased cpm by 21% (p=.002) and MVPA by 9% (p=.007) compared to baseline measurement. PA levels in cancer patients obtained with visual feedback became almost equal compared to age-matched healthy controls: cpm (301; IQR 170 vs. 299; IQR 111), MVPA (36; IQR 23 vs. 41; IQR 25min/day). Activity biofeedback seems to be feasible to induce changes in patients' PA behaviour.

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 (2×n=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.

The medical history of the 39-year-old woman included a weight loss of 5 kg, night sweats, and a decreasing general health over a 4-month period. Extirpating a newly appeared left cervical lymph node, the diagnosis of nodular sclerosing Hodgkins’s lymphoma was confirmed in June 2008. After completing the staging, computed tomography (CT) scans demonstrated unilateral cervical lymph nodes and a mediastinal bulky disease of 7 cm, corresponding to 1/3 the thorax diameter; a biopsy of the bone marrow discovered no infiltration. Even though the patient suffered from stage IIb disease, inclusion into the German Hodgkin’s disease study group HD14 protocol had to be denied due to personal and family-related reasons. Therefore, the patient was planned to be treated with the current gold standard regimen, 4 cycles of ABVD followed by IF-RT [1]. As the patient had lost a family member due to cancer a few months ago and she was facing divorce and unemployment, depression was noticed as a concomitant finding and treated with 20 mg paroxetin daily. The chemotherapy treatment started in July 2008 and the patient’s blood count presented no pathological results: Hemoglobin concentration (13.8 g/dl), erythrocytes (4.81/nl), and thrombocytes (239/nl) were normal; leukocytes (11.54/nl) were slightly elevated, but C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were normal (2 mg/l). Electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram did not show any pathologic results. At the beginning of the 2nd cycle in August 2008, the patient asked for supporting activities because she was not able to bear staying at home all the time during the treatment. Physical activity was therefore recommended as an effective supportive care in this case. The patient underwent a sports medicine screening and performance testing with stress ECG, treadmill test (modified Bruce protocol) including spiroergometric assessment with lactate threshold. We measured a moderate to good VO2 peak of 39 ml × kg × min in comparison to other Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients matching stadium IIb [12]. The estimated VO2 max walking in the Bruce protocol was also matching at 38.88 ml × kg × min [13]. The anaerobic threshold level was determined at a blood lactate level of 3.7 mmol/l at a pulse of 126 beats/min (bpm), and the maximum pulse rate was 168 bpm. On the basis of this assessment, the patient received individualized exercise routines containing an extensive aerobic training in between

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a frequently observed phenomenon in recreational or experienced athletes. It is associated with tenderness, pain and impairments in muscle function which may interfere with training capacity and athletic performance. Although acupuncture might minimize signs and symptoms of DOMS, there is no consistent evidence. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of a standardized acupuncture treatment on symptoms and muscle function in exercise-induced DOMS. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled observer and patient-blinded trial was undertaken. Twenty-two healthy sport students (22-30 yrs.; 10 males & 12 females) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: verum acupuncture (deep needling at classic acupuncture points and tender points; n=7), sham-acupuncture (superficial needling at non-acupuncture points; n=8) and control (no needling; n=7). DOMS of the non-dominant elbow-flexors was experimentally induced through eccentric contractions until exhaustion. The outcomes measures were pain perception (visual analogue scale; VAS; range: 0-100mm), mechanical pain threshold (MPT; pressure algometer), and maximum isometric voluntary force (MVIF; force transducer). Treatment was applied immediately, 24 and 48 hours after DOMS induction. Measurements of MPT and MIVF were made prior to DOMS induction as well as before and after every treatment session. VAS data were acquired post- induction as well as pre- and post-treatment. Final pain, MPT and MIVF measurements were performed 72 hours after DOMS induction. RESULTS: Following nonparametric testing, there were no significant differences between groups in outcome measures at baseline. After 72 hours, pain perception was significantly lower in the acupuncture group (mean ± SD: 5mm ± 7mm) compared to the sham-acupuncture (mean ± SD: 26mm ± 16mm) and control subjects (mean ± SD: 21mm ± 14mm) (p<0.05). However, the mean MPT and MIVF scores were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although acupuncture seemed to have no effects on mechanical pain threshold and muscle function, it proved to reduce perceived pain arising from exercise-induced muscle damage. Future studies should examine the effectiveness of acupuncture in routine athletic care.