Pilot study on Nordic pole walking and individuals with cancer: effects on physical function and health-related quality of life

Abstract

Individuals diagnosed with cancer experience a high symptom burden that has a significant impact on their quality of life and an individualized, community-based Nordic pole walking (NPW) program may help to alleviate this. The primary objective of this eight-week multi-centred randomized controlled pilot study was to assess the feasibility of a NPW program for individuals with stage I-IV nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and endometrial cancer. The secondary objective was to determine the effects of NPW on physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Participants were randomly assigned to either the NPW group (one supervised NPW session and up to three independent NPW sessions) or the control group (usual daily routine). The pilot study suggests that examining the effects of NPW on individuals diagnosed with cancer is feasible with modifications. Recommendations include: 1) Recruit participants at hospital cancer centres; 2) Individualize NPW and integrate behavioural change techniques into the program; 3) Use pedometers or accelerometers to increase the accuracy of measured physical activity levels; and 4) Organize NPW programs for individuals with NSCLC alongside programs for individuals with other chronic respiratory diseases. Results indicate trends of improved overall physical activity levels and HRQoL measures. The NPW group experienced a significant decrease in thigh circumference measurements from the baseline assessment (Right Thigh: median 49.4 cm (range 8.7); Left Thigh: median 49.0 cm (range 6.0)) to the final assessment (Right Thigh: median 48.5 cm (range 6.5); Left Thigh: median 46.3 (range 4.0)) (p<0.05). Significant improvement was also found in the NPW group 30-s chair stand test (Baseline: median SD) 10.5 (3.7); Final: median 14.3 (4.2)) (p<0.05). Further research with larger sample sizes should be completed to more conclusively determine the impact of NPW.