Effects of Aerobic Exercises Combined With Music Therapy on Fatigue and Quality of Life in Females With Thyroidectomy Following Thyroid Cancer: An Experimental Study.

Background Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the thyroid gland. Thyroid cancer is characterized by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells within the thyroid gland. In recent years, the incidence of thyroid cancer has been rising globally, with a significant increase observed in India. It is more prevalent among females, who are three times more likely to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer than males. According to recent statistics, thyroid cancer constitutes approximately 4%-6% of all cancers among Indian women, with an estimated incidence rate of 8.7 per 100,000 women. Thyroidectomy is a technique performed to manage thyroid cancer. Females who undergo thyroidectomy and receive insufficient levothyroxine supplementation are more prone to experience problems such as fatigue, which can significantly affect their quality of life (QoL). Fatigue is a prevalent and discomforting symptom among oncology patients, though its prevalence can vary depending on cancer type, stage, and treatment. Exercise is becoming widely recognized as a management strategy for fatigue and for enhancing QoL. This study aims to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise and music therapy on fatigue and QoL in females who have undergone thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer. Fatigue will be measured using the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), while QoL will be assessed through the RAND SF-36 Questionnaire. The study seeks to determine how these combined interventions may help improve both physical and mental well-being in this population. Method The study was conducted in the physiotherapy outpatient department of Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital over a duration of six months, using an experimental interventional design. A total of 30 female participants, all of whom have undergone thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer, were selected through a simple random sampling method with allocation based on a computer-generated list. Female participants will ensure completion of the six-week session. As interventions, both aerobic exercises and music therapy were combined. The RAND SF-36 Questionnaire and FAS were utilized to examine QoL and fatigue levels before and after treatment. The student-paired t-test was applied to compare pre- and post-treatment outcomes. Result  Following six weeks of interventions, the fatigue symptom was reduced, resulting in a considerable enhancement in QoL. Post-intervention the FAS (t=13.37, p=0.0001) and RAND SF-36 (t=14.09, p=0.0001) scores improved more significantly. The level of significance was found to be p<0.0001. Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the combination of aerobic exercises and music therapy has a positive impact on the QoL of females who have undergone thyroidectomy. Additionally, these interventions were found to effectively reduce fatigue symptoms in this population. These results underscore the potential benefits of integrating aerobic exercises and music therapy into post-thyroidectomy care strategies for enhancing overall well-being.