Background: The number of people living with the side effects of breast cancer treatment (eg, loss of muscular mass and muscular strength, upper-limb mobility and disability, lymphedema, cardiac toxicity, and reduced quality of life) is increasing yearly. These consequences can be improved through exercise, specially combining resistance and aerobic training. Previous exercise trials have not been consistent in applying training principles and standardized reporting, and this partly explains the variability in obtained results. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of a 12-week supervised resistance exercise program combined with home-based aerobic exercise, compared with home-based aerobic exercise only, on muscular strength and several aspects of health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors. To maximize transparency, replicability, and clinical applicability, the intervention is described following the consensus on exercise reporting template. Methods: This study is a parallel-group randomized controlled trial in which 60 female breast cancer survivors, who have completed central treatments of the disease in the last 5 years, will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group that will perform a total of 24 progressive resistance training sessions for 12 weeks (ie, 2 weeks of individual training and 10 weeks of micro-group training) and will be requested to undertake 10,000 steps/d, or a control group that will be requested to undertake 10,000 steps/d, only. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline and at week 12. Primary outcome measure is peak isometric muscular strength of the lower- and upper-body, assessed with several exercises through an electromechanical dynamometer. Secondary outcomes include cardiorespiratory fitness, upper-joint mobility and disability, health-related quality of life, cancer-related fatigue, depression, life satisfaction, and presence of lymphedema. Discussion: This study aims to investigate the extent to which a 12-week supervised and progressive resistance exercise program, in addition to home-based aerobic physical activity, might improve muscular strength and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors. The comprehensive description of the intervention will likely contribute to enhancing exercise prescription in this population. Trial registration number: ISRCTN14601208.

Purpose This study assessed the effects of 12-week supervised resistance training combined with home-based physical activity on physical fitness, cancer-related fatigue, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and life satisfaction in female breast cancer survivors. Methods A parallel-group, outcome assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial included 60 female breast cancer survivors who had completed their core treatments within the previous 10 years. Through computer-generated simple randomization, participants were assigned to resistance training (RTG; two sessions/week for 12 weeks plus instructions to undertake ≥ 10,000 steps/d) or control (CG; ≥ 10,000 steps/d only). Outcomes were evaluated at baseline and week 12. Muscular strength was assessed with electromechanical dynamometry. A standardized full-body muscular strength score was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included cardiorespiratory fitness, shoulder mobility, cancer-related fatigue, depressive symptoms, HRQoL, and life satisfaction. Results Thirty-two participants were assigned to RTG (29 achieved ≥ 75% attendance) and 28 to CG (all completed the trial). Intention-to-treat analyses revealed that the standardized full-body muscular strength score increased significantly in the RTG compared to the CG (0.718; 95% CI 0.361–1.074, P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.04). This increase was consistent for the standardized scores of upper-body (0.727; 95% CI 0.294–1.160, P = 0.001, d = 0.87) and lower-body (0.709; 95% CI 0.324–1.094, P = 0.001, d = 0.96) strength. There was no effect on cardiorespiratory fitness, shoulder flexion, cancer-related fatigue, depressive symptoms, HRQoL, or life satisfaction. The sensitivity analyses confirmed these results. Conclusion and implication for cancer survivors. In female breast cancer survivors who had completed their core treatments within the past 10 years, adding two weekly sessions of supervised resistance training to a prescription of home-based physical activity for 12 weeks produced a large increase in upper-, lower-, and full-body muscular strength, while other fitness components and patient-reported outcomes did not improve. Trial registration number. ISRCTN14601208.

Background: Although breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent type of cancer in the world, its high survival rate implies that many people live long after the treatments and face their side effects. The physical function (PF) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people surviving BC decreases significantly, which makes important to identify markers that may be associated with a better health status and prognosis. Previous studies suggest that handgrip strength (HGS) and HGS relative to the body mass index (rHGS) are good indicators of PF and HRQoL in different populations. However, it is unknown whether this applies to BC survivors. This study aimed to evaluate the association of HGS and rHGS with PF and HRQoL in this population. Methods: Sixty female BC survivors participated. Handgrip strength was assessed with a dynamometer. Arm volume was estimated and upper limb impairments, as well as cancer-related fatigue, depression, life satisfaction and HRQoL, were assessed using standardized questionnaires. Results: Higher levels of HGS and rHGS were associated with higher levels of HRQoL, lower cancer-related fatigue, and fewer problems with the affected arm. Conclusions: These results suggest that HGS may be a good indicator of self-reported PF and HRQoL in female BC survivors.

The social changes we have been experiencing in recent years are generating anxiety that, together with sedentary lifestyles and poor health habits, are leading to premature ageing of society, in addition to the high rates of obesity and associated morbidity. In order to improve the lifestyles of the university community, the objective of this research project was the implementation of the UAL Activa programme based on physical activity. The beneficiaries were UAL staff from different sections, a total of 68 participants aged between 28 and 61 years (Mage = 49.36). Additionally, a total of 12 final year students of the degree in physical activity and sport sciences were responsible for designing and developing the exercise tasks. In-depth interviews were held with the participants of this project about the different benefits that their participation had brought them. The results obtained from the analysis with Nvivo v.10. showed five thematic blocks on the perceived improvements in physical fitness, physical condition, mood and emotional state, assessment of the new lifestyle, and social relations. In conclusion, the benefits of physical activity and the need to continue implementing action and intervention plans to encourage and promote its practice in all sectors of the population were highlighted.

Objetivo: Evaluar la asociación entre la fuerza de prensión manual (FPM) y diversos parámetros de condición física y composición corporal en mujeres supervivientes de cáncer de mama. Método: Se realizó un estudio transversal con los datos basales del ensayo clínico EFICAN (Ejercicio FÍsico para supervivientes de CÁNcer de mama). Participaron 60 mujeres supervivientes de cáncer de mama que habían terminado los tratamientos centrales de la enfermedad en los 10 años previos al comienzo del estudio, que no presentaban enfermedad pulmonar o cardiovascular, cáncer de mama metastásico, ni tenían prevista una intervención para reconstrucción mamaria en un plazo de 3 meses desde el comienzo del estudio. Se evaluó la fuerza de prensión manual mediante dinamometría manual, la fuerza muscular isométrica pico mediante dinamometría electromecánica funcional, el fitness cardiorrespiratorio (VO2máx) se estimó a través del Siconolfi step test, la amplitud de movimiento (ADM) en flexión de hombro mediante goniometría digital, y la composición corporal mediante bioimpedancia. Resultados: Se observó una asociación positiva de la FPM con la masa muscular (r=0.423), y con la fuerza isométrica de miembro superior (r=0.523) e inferior (r=0.335), y una asociación negativa de la FPM con el porcentaje de grasa corporal (r=-0.405). Sin embargo, no se encontró asociación entre FPM y VO2máx ni ADM del hombro (P>0.05). Conclusiones: Estos resultados sugieren que la FPM puede ser un buen indicador de fuerza muscular, así como de composición corporal en mujeres supervivientes de cáncer de mama. Futuros estudios prospectivos deberán evaluar el valor predictivo de la FPM en esta población.