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Abstract
Objective: To determine the etiology of fatigue in prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation
therapy (RT).
Methods: Thirteen prescreened men (60 to 76 years in age, 58 to 130kg in body weight) were
evaluated for neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, cardiopulmonary
fatigue (CPF), and psychological-subjective fatigue (PSF) at 1 to 2 weeks before RT
(Pre), at the end of 8 weeks of RT (RT), and at 5 to 6 weeks after completion of RT
(Post).
Outcome Measures: For NMF, the TA muscle was fatigued by sustained isometric contraction at 80% of
maximum voluntary contraction for 60 seconds on a force dynamometer. Neuromuscular
efficiency (NME) expressed as a ratio of isometric force (in Newtons) and respective
integrated electromyograms were measured. For CPF, stress testing was performed on
a treadmill using the modified Bruce protocol. Piper Fatigue Scale, Beck Depression
Inventory, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were administered to evaluate PSF.
Data Analysis: Paired t tests, single factor analysis of variance, and nonparametric analysis.
Results: At RT, there was a significant decline in NME of TA at the beginning (18.4%, p < .01) and the end (29.2%, p < .001) of sustained muscle contraction for 60 seconds. Post values were lower but
nonsignificant in comparison with Pre values. NME recovered within 5 to 6 weeks after
RT. No abnormalities were detected in CPF or PSF. No correlation was found between
the decline in NME and psychological status of the patients.
Conclusion: Results provide definitive evidence of transient decline in NME in prostate cancer
patients at the completion of RT. The effect seems to be specific for neuromuscular
performance alone and is independent of the cardiovascular or psychological status
of the patients.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 8,
1997
Received:
October 3,
1996
Footnotes
☆No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.
Identification
Copyright
© 1997 Published by Elsevier Inc.
