Effect of pilates exercise on functional capacity, cancer-related fatigue, depression, salivary cortisols and quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors in Klang Valley

Persistent physical and psychological complaints related to cancer and its treatment impact the quality of life of colorectal cancer survivors. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Pilates exercise on the functional capacity, cancer-related fatigue, depression, salivary cortisol and quality of life of colorectal cancer survivors. This is a quasi-experimental study which was conducted at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, and Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah. The intervention group performed Pilates exercises with a certified Pilates instructor via online streaming from the participants’ homes. Meanwhile, the control group participants received the usual care as stipulated by their oncologists. Data was collected at baseline and eight weeks after the exercise intervention. The effects of the intervention were analyzed using Repeated Measures Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) statistical test. Thirty-six (36) colorectal cancer survivors were allocated into either a Pilates exercise intervention group (N= 18) or a control group (N= 18). Over eight weeks, only thirty (30) participants completed the study. The Pilates exercise group revealed significant group x time interactions (p<0.05) for quality of life, role functioning, functional capacity, and stool frequency. However, only the stool frequency symptom (p <0.05) remained significant after controlling for the confounders of age, gender and stage of cancer. The predictors for quality of life determined by Multiple Linear Regression revealed presence of hypertension disease, stage III of colorectal cancer and cognitive functioning level associated with global quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors. Pilates exercise intervention potentially improve quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors.