Using motion games to help manage fatigue and pain after head and neck cancer treatment
A Motion Exergaming Approach to Promote Self-Managing Fatigue and Pain after Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
This study is testing a friendly online program called PAfitME to help head and neck cancer survivors feel better by managing their fatigue and pain through fun exercise games like Wii Fit and Xbox Kinect, along with personal support to make it easier for them to stay active during recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10980419 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates a personalized telehealth program called PAfitME, designed to help head and neck cancer survivors manage fatigue and pain during their recovery. The program utilizes motion exergaming platforms like Wii Fit and Xbox Kinect to encourage physical activity, which is known to alleviate these symptoms. By addressing common barriers to exercise, such as impaired fitness and negative health beliefs, the intervention aims to improve patients' quality of life and functional status. Patients will receive support through a combination of FaceTime calls and home visits to ensure they can effectively engage with the program.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently completed treatment for head and neck cancer and are experiencing fatigue and pain.
Not a fit: Patients who are not recovering from head and neck cancer or those who do not experience fatigue or pain may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the quality of life for head and neck cancer survivors by reducing fatigue and pain.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that physical activity can improve symptoms in cancer survivors, but this specific approach using motion exergaming is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Hsiao-Lan — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Wang, Hsiao-Lan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.