Effects of a 12-week supervised resistance training program, combined with home-based physical activity, on physical fitness and quality of life in female breast cancer survivors: the EFICAN randomized controlled trial

Abstract

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.

Effects of aerobic combined with resistance exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic health in breast cancer survivors: A Systematic Review, meta-analysis and meta-regression

“…All 40 studies [ 5 , 13 , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] ] were randomized controlled studies, three of which were randomized parallel controlled trials. A total of 2849 participants were included in the studies, 1450 in the intervention group and 1399 in the control group, with a mean age of 46.0–66.6 years, all female.…”

“…Of the 40 studies included, 17 studies [ 5 , 13 , [23] , [24] , [25] , [27] , [28] , [29] , 34 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 47 , 48 , 52 , 56 , 59 ] were considered to be at low risk of bias in random sequence generation, 14 studies [ 5 , 13 , [23] , [24] , [25] , 28 , 29 , 33 , 34 , 37 , 47 , 52 , 56 , 59 ] were considered to be at low risk of bias in allocation concealment, all studies [ 5 , 13 , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] , …”

Social media use and health promotion among cancer survivors

“…While SM use for health purposes was associated with increased adherence to national guidelines for strength training among cancer survivors, there was no association between SM use and national physical activity or dietary targets. Although strength training and physical activity are not synonymous, strength training has been associated with increased physical fitness among breast cancer survivors 37 . A social media‐based intervention on Meta found a positive relationship between SM engagement and physical activity levels among young adult cancer survivors 38 .…”

Impact of covid-19 confinement on physical activity in Spanish breast cancer survivors

“…Our results con rm this statement since the BCS of the sample that trained in supervised programs had higher scores in all the HUNT1-PAQ variables, especially in intensity and duration of the sessions. In this regard, it is to be expected that, these BCS would obtain greater bene ts for the increased e ciency offered by this mode of training as other studies point out [26][27][28][29] even when such monitoring was carried out through supervised online programs during con nement [30][31][32] Finally, the main change observed comparing pre and post con nement periods was the change in the location where PA was performed, signi cantly increasing the BCS that preferred to train outdoors. Given that CS have a higher risk of infection [33,34] , it became necessary for them to modify their training habits in order to maintain their PA [33].…”