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Resistance training improves fatigue and quality of life in previously sedentary breast cancer survivors: a randomised controlled trial
Author(s) -
Hagstrom A.D.,
Marshall P.W.M.,
Lonsdale C.,
Cheema B.S.,
Fiatarone Singh M.A.,
Green S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.12422
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , quality of life (healthcare) , physical therapy , cancer related fatigue , randomized controlled trial , cancer , nursing
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of resistance training ( RT ) on quality of life ( QOL ) and fatigue in breast cancer survivors as an adjunct to usual care. We recruited 39 women who had survived breast cancer [mean age (y) 51.9 ± 8.8; time since diagnosis (m) 11.6 ± 13.2]. Primary outcomes were fatigue as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue ( FACIT ) scale and QOL as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General ( FACT ‐G) scale. ANCOVA was used to assess the change in the primary outcomes while controlling for baseline values, with effect sizes (ES) displayed as partial Eta squared. The experimental group received supervised RT 3 days per week in a university clinic for 16 weeks. Perceptions of fatigue improved significantly in the RT group compared to controls [mean ( SD ) 6.7 (7.5) points vs. 1.5 (3.7) points], ( P = 0.006, ES = 0.20) as did QOL [6.9 (8.5) points vs. 1.6 (4.4) points], ( P = 0.015, ES = 0.16). We demonstrated both statistically and clinically important improvements in fatigue and QOL in response to RT in breast cancer survivors.