The role of central and peripheral muscle fatigue in postcancer fatigue: a randomized controlled trial
Publication year
2015Source
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 49, 2, (2015), pp. 173-82ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor
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Organization
Radiation Oncology
Medical Psychology
Medical Oncology
Journal title
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume
vol. 49
Issue
iss. 2
Page start
p. 173
Page end
p. 82
Subject
Radboudumc 14: Tumours of the digestive tract RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Radboudumc 2: Cancer development and immune defence RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences; Radboudumc 3: Disorders of movement DCMN: Donders Center for Medical NeuroscienceAbstract
CONTEXT: Postcancer fatigue is a frequently occurring problem, impairing quality of life. Little is known about (neuro)physiological factors determining postcancer fatigue. It may be hypothesized that postcancer fatigue is characterized by low peripheral muscle fatigue and high central muscle fatigue. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to examine whether central and peripheral muscle fatigue differ between fatigued and non-fatigued cancer survivors and to examine the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on peripheral and central muscle fatigue of fatigued cancer survivors in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Sixteen fatigued patients in the intervention group (CBT) and eight fatigued patients in the waiting list group were successfully assessed at baseline and six months later. Baseline measurements of 20 fatigued patients were compared with 20 non-fatigued patients. A twitch interpolation technique and surface electromyography were applied, respectively, during sustained contraction of the biceps brachii muscle. RESULTS: Muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) and central activation failure (CAF) were not significantly different between fatigued and non-fatigued patients. Change scores of MFCV and CAF were not significantly different between patients in the CBT and waiting list groups. Patients in the CBT group reported a significantly larger decrease in fatigue scores than patients in the waiting list group. CONCLUSION: Postcancer fatigue is neither characterized by abnormally high central muscle fatigue nor by low peripheral muscle fatigue. These findings suggest a difference in the underlying physiological mechanism of postcancer fatigue vs. other fatigue syndromes.
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Academic publications [238441]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [90373]
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