Open AccessRelationship between balance function and QOL in cancer survivors and healthy subjects
Author(s) -
Shinichiro Morishita,
Ryo Hirabayashi,
Atsuhiro Tsubaki,
Osamu Aoki,
Jack B. Fu,
Hideaki Onishi,
Takao Tsuji
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.59
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1536-5964
pISSN - 0025-7974
DOI - 10.1097/md.0000000000027822
Subject(s) - medicine , balance (ability) , cancer , quality of life (healthcare) , gerontology , physical therapy , nursing
A previous study reported that cancer survivors exhibit decreased postural stability compared to age-matched controls. Another study showed that cancer survivors have a lower quality of life (QOL) compared to healthy subjects, and there was a significant relationship between muscle strength and QOL in cancer survivors. We aimed to investigate differences in the associations between balance function and QOL in cancer survivors and healthy subjects. Forty-one cancer survivors and 33 healthy subjects were included. Balance function was evaluated using the timed up and go test, and body sway was tested using a force platform. QOL was assessed using the medical outcome study 36-item short-form health survey. Cancer survivors exhibited significantly higher timed up and go and lower QOL than that of healthy subjects ( P < .05). There was a significant association between body sway and QOL ( P < .05) among cancer survivors. However, healthy subjects had subscales for QOL related to the body sway test parameters more frequently than cancer survivors ( P < .05). Cancer survivors’ balance function may have little effect on QOL, unlike in healthy subjects.