One year of Football Fitness improves L1–L4 BMD, postural balance, and muscle strength in women treated for breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose To examine efficacy of 12 months Football Fitness offered twice per week on bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers (BTM), postural balance, muscle strength, and body composition in women treated for early‐stage breast cancer (BC). Methods Women treated for early‐stage BC were randomized to Football Fitness (FFG, n = 46) or control (CON, n = 22) in a 2:1 ratio for 12 months, with assessments performed at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Outcomes were total body‐, lumbar spine‐ and proximal femur BMD, total body lean and fat mass, leg muscle strength, postural balance, and plasma amino‐terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP), osteocalcin, and C‐terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX). Intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analyses and per‐protocol analyses (≥50% attendance in FFG) were performed using linear mixed models. Results Participants in FFG completing the 12‐month intervention (n = 33) attended 0.8 (SD = 0.4) sessions per week. Intention to treat analysis of mean changes over 12 months showed significant differences (p<.05) in L1–L4 BMD (0.029 g/cm2, 95%CI: 0.001 to 0.057), leg press strength (7.2 kg, 95%CI: 0.1 to 14.3), and postural balance (−4.3 n need of support, 95%CI: −8.0 to −0.7) favoring FFG compared to CON. In the per‐protocol analyses, L1–L4 and trochanter major BMD were improved (p = .012 and .030, respectively) in FFG compared with CON. No differences were observed between groups in BTMs in the ITT or per protocol analyses. Conclusion One year of Football Fitness training may improve L1–L4 BMD, leg muscle strength, and postural balance in women treated for early‐stage breast cancer.

The Faroe Islands COVID-19 Recreational Football Study: Player-to-Player Distance, Body-to-Body Contact, Body-to-Ball Contact and Exercise Intensity during Various Types of Football Training for Both Genders and Various Age Groups

“…Our findings emphasise the potential of football as a versatile and effective type of training that can be used to provide broad-spectrum fitness, well-being, and health effects for a variety of population groups. The data support other observations in children [28], sedentary adults [1][2][3], elderly [29,30], and various patient groups with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer [31][32][33]. In most regions, the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced physical activity among the general public [16] and simultaneously increased sedentary and screen time in children and adults [17,34].…”

Effect of Physical Activity on Static and Dynamic Postural Balance in Women Treated for Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

“…As a result, seven reports were included in the review: five RCTs [ 18 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ] and two pilot CTs [ 30 , 31 ]. The process of searching and selecting trials is outlined in Figure 1 .…”

“…The methodological quality of the five RCTs was assessed on the PEDro scale using the following score ranges: low quality: 1–4 pts (two trials [ 18 , 28 ]); medium quality: 5–7 pts (three trials [ 26 , 27 , 29 ]), and high quality: 8–9 pts (zero trials) ( Table 2 ).…”

Exercise and Bone Health in Cancer: Enemy or Ally?

“…Although most investigations have not assessed the presence or absence of AEs [ 54 , 55 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 62 , 63 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 ], the reported findings support the safety profile of exercise [ 56 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 65 , 67 , 69 , 71 , 73 , 74 , 75 ]. In trials including patients with cancer at high risk of accelerated bone loss, e.g., those undergoing chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, or in postmenopausal status, the majority did not find any serious AEs [ 56 , 62 , 64 , 65 , 69 , 71 , 74 ], while three registered mild side effects [ 61 , 74 , 75 ]. For instance, Nikander and colleagues, in their randomized controlled trial, which consisted of a 12-month exercise intervention involving patients with breast cancer undergoing endocrine therapy, recorded 4 moderate AEs [ 61 ].…”

“…Analyzing the trials, which included patients at high risk of losing bone, some reported the inability of exercise to preserve bone in patients with cancer [ 56 , 65 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 71 ]. On the other hand, different investigations found improvements in bone mineral density among patients at high risk of losing bone tissue, even if considerable heterogeneity regarding the skeletal sites has been observed [ 59 , 60 , 62 , 64 , 69 , 74 , 75 ]. For instance, a 12-month randomized controlled trial, including 498 patients with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and/or undergoing endocrine treatments, has explored the impact of a supervised weekly aerobic or circuit training plus home-based, vigorous-intensity aerobic activity 2–3 times per week on bone tissue.…”