Student of the Faculty of Education UWB presented his research at a prestigious oncology congress

Better results in motor tests and lower heart rates. Physical activity influences not only the physical but also the mental well-being of people with cancer – and it is safe for them. This is precisely what the research conducted by student Adam Vokurka demonstrates.

The development of exercise programs that promote an active lifestyle and improve the quality of life of people with cancer are the main goals of the project Exercise Programs for Oncology Patients. It was the results of this project that Adam Vokurka presented at the international oncology congress ESMO 2025 held in Berlin at the end of October.

So far, 22 oncology patients have completed individualized exercise programs within the project. Based on the evaluation of a year-long implementation, Adam Vokurka concludes that exercise activities tailored to the specific needs of patients lead to significant improvements in their physical fitness and quality of life. These improvements are reflected in better motor test results, reduced heart rates and improved subjective perception of exertion, along with more positive emotional experiences. According to Vokurka, the findings confirm that individualized physical activity is both safe and effective for oncology patients and can therefore be an important part of supportive cancer care.

“Adam focuses on a topic with real impact. His results contribute to a better understanding of how physical activity can positively influence not only the physical but also the psychological condition of people with cancer. I’m glad he was able to represent our faculty and university at such a prestigious international level,” said Věra Knappová from the Centre for Physical Education and Sport at the Faculty of Education of the University of West Bohemia, Adam Vokurka’s thesis supervisor.

Adam Vokurka, a student of the follow-up master’s program in Pedagogy of Movement Prevention, sees his participation at the prestigious international congress as a unique experience: “Presenting research findings among experts from around the world was not only prestigious but also deeply inspiring. The discussions confirmed that movement-based prevention has a well-established place in oncology.”

The research conducted at the Centre for Physical Education and Sport of the Faculty of Education, University of West Bohemia, and its presentation in Berlin underline the growing importance of exercise-based prevention in the interdisciplinary collaboration of medicine, pedagogy and sports science — fields that together bring new approaches to health and quality of life. The participation of a Faculty of Education student at ESMO 2025 represents significant recognition of the quality of research conducted at the University of West Bohemia.

The ESMO Congress (European Society for Medical Oncology) is one of the world’s most important oncology events. Every year, it brings together tens of thousands of professionals from around the globe — doctors, scientists, researchers, and specialists from various medical disciplines. They discuss the latest advances in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, and explore ways to better connect science, practice, and patients’ everyday lives. This year’s congress took place in Berlin from 17 to 21 October 2025.