Paired exercise has superior effects on psychosocial health compared to individual exercise in female cancer patients

Abstract

Purpose Exercise improves the quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients recovering from treatment. Since group exercise fosters cohesion, we sought to determine if paired exercise would have similar, positive effects. An experiential study design was used to compare the effect of exercise (12 weeks) on psychosocial health in paired versus individually trained cancer patients. Methods Female cancer patients ( n = 28) who completed cancer treatment were placed into either the singly trained or paired group. Groups were matched for cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen consumption, single: 24.1 ± 7.4, pair: 24.8 ± 6.3 ml/kg/min) and age (single: 58 ± 12, pair: 58 ± 9 years). Patients participated in 36, 90-min exercise sessions in accordance with exercise recommendations. QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, FACT-G), depressive, fatigue, and insomnia symptoms were measured before, midway, and after the intervention. Fitness was measured pre- and post-intervention. Participants did not meet prior to the intervention. Two-way ANOVAs and multiple comparisons tests were used to detect differences ( p < 0.05). Results Emotional well-being and total FACT-G scores were significantly improved in the paired but not individually trained patients. Depressive symptoms were significantly improved at mid- and final time points in the paired group. Paired patients reported significant improvements in insomnia symptoms from pre- to mid-intervention. Depressive and insomnia symptoms in the individually trained group were unchanged. A significant main effect of group was detected in fatigue scores in patients who were not chronically tired at baseline ( F (1, 12) = 6.318, p = 0.0272). Both groups exhibited similar improvements in fitness. Conclusion Paired exercisers had greater benefits in QOL, emotional well-being, and insomnia and depressive symptoms compared to individual exercisers.

Influencing factors of depressive symptoms in patients with malignant tumour

“… 39 Physical exercise reduces the risk of depressive symptoms in cancer patients because it improves immune function and relieves patients’ anxiety and tension; this further improves sleep and appetite, promotes digestion and increases the body’s tolerance to pain. 40 , 41 Using a mouse model, Crupi et al. showed that brain inflammation, impairment and hippocampal plasticity are associated with anxiety and depression.…”

Utilizing a Team Kinesiology Model to Support Rehabilitative Care in Patients

“…Patients who undergo 12 weeks of exercise training, following the exercise recommendations for this specific population [ 34 ], have improved fitness, health and psychosocial outcomes [ 35 , 36 ]. They report that they “feel stronger, more coordinated,” and they “have more energy and sleep better” [ 20 ]. Reduced medication use, improved mood, and return to ADLs reduces the burden on the health care system, emotionally as well as financially.…”

“…Not surprisingly, exercise itself has the same boosting effect on mood [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. The socialization associated with exercise may have powerful [ 21 ] or even synergetic benefits on well-being [ 20 ]. Not only does exercise help patients to feel more connected and reintegrate into a society from which they had been isolated (especially in patients with limited mobility), but this feeling of community benefits all who are involved, including program administrators, faculty and interns.…”

“…Thirty-one student-led research projects have been presented at state and national professional conferences, based upon findings from the LWMB (available references on request). Collaborative faculty research which were facilitated by the use of this model have been published in peer-reviewed journals [ 20 , 22 , 51 , 52 ]. Even more, a group of researchers who have been using the TKM model since 1996 was recently recognized by the Translational Journal of the American College of Sport Medicine for their Paper of the Year, where they provide a standardized exercise care model for cancer patients [ 53 ].…”

“…These student interns provide exercise rehabilitation free of charge, whilst gaining invaluable clinical experience. Despite operational differences, strikingly, both sites report the same consistent outcomes: (1) improvement in patient health and QOL [ 6 , 20 , 21 ], (2) enhancement of student education experiences, and strengthened clinical and professional skills [ 22 ], (3) promotion of quality research [ 20 , 22 ] (personal observation), and (4) a strengthened sense of community [ 2 ] (personal observation).…”