Assessment of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, Timed Up and Go test, and body sway test between cancer survivors and healthy participants

Background: Cancer survivors experience late and long-term effects of treatment; also, the disease itself might be responsible for persisting functional impairments. The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle strength, balance function using the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test and Timed Up and Go test with single and cognitive dual tasks and body sway in breast cancer survivors and healthy women and non-breast cancer survivors and healthy participants. Methods: Twenty-six cancer survivors and 19 healthy participants were assessed for grip and knee extension strength with the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, Timed Up and Go, and body sway test performance. Findings: Breast cancer survivors had significantly lower hand grip strength (p < .05) and Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test scores than healthy women (p < .05). Additionally, in breast cancer survivors, hand grip strength had a significant relationship with Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test and Timed Up and Go scores (p < .05) but had no relationship with the total center of pressure length. Hand grip strength and Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test scores were not significantly different in non-breast cancer survivors and healthy participants. In non-breast cancer survivors, knee extension strength had a significant relationship with the Timed Up and Go scores (p < .05). Interpretation: The relationship between muscle strength and balance function may be characterized by the different diagnoses in cancer survivors. The current findings showed the changes in balance function and muscle strength among cancer survivors.