ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
There are few studies evaluating the effects of physiotherapy with multidimensional instruments on cancer pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of physiotherapy on pain and functional capacity in hospitalized cancer patients.
METHODS:
This is a quasi-experimental study including 40 participants with a mean age of 51±18 years assessed before and after physiotherapy interventions, using the verbal numerical rating scale, the McGill Pain Questionnaire - Short Form, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Sit-to-Stand test, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group questionnaire for functional capacity evaluation. The participants were classified according to the number of performed sessions: group 1≤ 5 sessions (n=25) and group 2 ≥ 6 sessions (n=15).
RESULTS:
There was a reduction in cancer pain measured by sensory (p=0.02) and mixed descriptors (p=0.05) of the McGill questionnaire as well as by the numerical visual scale (p=0.03) in patients who performed at least six physiotherapy sessions. There was a significant correlation (r=0.81; p<0.001) between the reduction in pain measured by the numerical visual scale and the reduction in pain measured by the Total McGill questionnaire. There were no significant differences in the Sit-to-Stand test and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group functional capacity questionnaire.
CONCLUSION:
At least six sessions of physiotherapy with emphasis on kinesiotherapy were needed to promote a reduction of cancer pain in hospitalized patients. We recommend the use of multidimensional instruments in the evaluation of cancer pain in hospitalized patients submitted to physiotherapy.
Keywords:
Cancer pain; Neoplasm; Pain measurement; Physiotherapy