Influência da prática de exergames na fadiga muscular e suas repercussões em pacientes com câncer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an exergames protocol on perception of related fatigue, thermography of the lowers limbs, static posture balance, muscle force and median frequency of electromyographic signal (EMG), in the cancer patients. The groups were divided into: cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (CRG: n = 15), patients with cancer and who were not on chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (CAG: n = 15) and volunteers without cancer (CG: n = 15). Was performed in all groups, the evaluation of related fatigue measured by the fatigue subscale of The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaire; evaluation of surface temperature of the lower limbs by infrared thermography; evaluation of static postural balance through baropodometrics variables; analysis of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) through dynamometer and assessment of muscle fatigue by the median frequency of the EMG signal of dorsiflexors and plantar flexors muscles. All analysis were performed on three moments: initial (Ev0), after the 10th session (Ev1) and after the 20th session (Ev2). The sessions of exergames were performed to all groups using of the Xbox 360 Kinect™ console equipped with the game Your Shape Fitness Evolved™ 2012. The activity was performed three times a week and lasting an average of 35 minutes. RESULTS: The groups CRG (vs CG: p= 0.0003) and CAG (vs CG: p <0.0001) are more susceptible to fatigue before performing the exergames protocol, through fatigue subscale of the FACIT-F. It was observed that the fatigue disappears (CRG vs. CG, p= 1.000; CAG vs. CG, p= 1.000) after ten and twenty sessions of exergames activities. The CAG presented a reduction of surface temperature in the anterior region of the left lower limb when compared to CRG (p= 0.024) and in the right lower limb (CAG vs CRG: p= 0.041; CAG vs. CGC: p= 0.042), while the temperature of posterior the region of the lower limbs was similar between the groups (Group*Evaluation: p= 0.6470). It was verified at the end of training, the same thermic behavior of the initial assessment for the right anterior region (CGR vs. CAG: p= 0.041; CAG vs. CG: p= 0.042). Stabilometric changes were not observed throughout the exergames protocol used. The average values of MVIC for right and left dorsiflexors muscles (p<0.0001) and for right plantar flexors muscles after 10 sessions (p = 0.0249) increased significantly in GQR. The median frequency of EMG signal of the right medial gastrocnemius muscle of the GQR is different to CG in initial assessment (p= 0.0159). However, after 10 and 20 sessions increased the median frequency of left tibialis anterior muscle (p= 0.0128), in the CGA, as well as the left medial gastrocnemius muscle (p= 0.0005) and right gastrocnemius muscle (p= 0.0069), in the GQR. CONCLUSION: Thus, the practice of exercises by exergames applied in this study proved to be effective for reducing of related fatigue and muscle fatigue, increase in muscle strength, however was not able to change the static postural balance and the temperature of the legs of patients with cancer.