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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2007 Jan 4;125(1):22-8.
doi: 10.1590/s1516-31802007000100005.

The effects of an individualized exercise intervention on body composition in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment

Claudio Battaglini  1 , Martim Bottaro, Carolyn Dennehy, Logan Rae, Edgar Shields, David Kirk, Anthony Carl Hackney
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of an individualized exercise intervention on body composition in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment

Claudio Battaglini et al. Sao Paulo Med J. .

Erratum in

  • Sao Paulo Med J. 2007 Sep 6;125(5):303. Hackney, Anthony [corrected to Hackney, Anthony Carl]

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Context and objective: Changes in metabolism have been reported in the majority of patients undergoing cancer treatment, and these are usually characterized by progressive change in body composition. The effects of aerobic exercise programs to combat the cancer and cancer treatment-related side effects, which include the negative changes in body composition, have been extensively reported in the literature. However, few resistance exercise intervention studies have hypothesized that breast cancer patients might benefit from this type of exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine whether exercise protocols that emphasize resistance training would change body composition and strength in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Design and setting: Randomized controlled trial, at the Campus Recreation Center and Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute of the University of Northern Colorado, and the North Colorado Medical Center.

Methods: Twenty inactive breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to a 21-week exercise group (n = 10) or a control group (n = 10). The exercise group trained at low to moderate intensity for 60 minutes on two days/week. The primary outcome measurements included body composition (skinfold method) and muscle strength (one repetition maximum).

Results: Significant differences in lean body mass, body fat and strength (p = 0.004, p = 0.004, p = 0.025, respectively) were observed between the groups at the end of the study.

Conclusion: The results suggest that exercise emphasizing resistance training promotes positive changes in body composition and strength in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO:: Alterações no metabolismo têm sido apresentadas pela literatura e são comumente caracterizadas pela mudança progressiva da composição corporal observada na maioria de pacientes de câncer em tratamento. A literatura reporta os efeitos de programas de exercícios aeróbicos para combater o câncer e seus efeitos colaterais, porém, poucos estudos relacionados à intervenção por meio de exercícios de resistência em pacientes com câncer de mama e seus efeitos na composição corporal foram reportados na literatura. O objetivo foi determinar se um protocolo de exercícios de resistência traz alterações na composição corporal e força de pacientes com câncer de mama.

TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL:: Estudo randomizado com um grupo de controle da University of Northern Colorado, Campus Recreation and Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute e North Colorado Medical Center.

MÉTODOS:: 20 pacientes portadoras de câncer de mama foram divididas aleatoriamente em um grupo que realizou 21 semanas de exercícios (n = 10) e um grupo de controle (n = 10). O grupo experimental realizou exercícios de intensidade baixa e moderada durante 60 minutos duas vezes por semana. A composição corporal foi avaliada pelo método de dobras cutâneas e a força msucular pelo teste de uma repetição máxima (1 RM).

RESULTADOS:: Foram encontradas diferenças significativas na massa magra, gordura corporal e força (p = 0,004, p = 0,004, p = 0,025, respectivamente) entre os grupos ao final do estudo.

CONCLUSÃO:: Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que exercícios com treinamento de força promovem mudanças na composição corporal e força em pacientes portadoras de câncer de mama sob tratamento médico.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None

References

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