The effects of a home-based physical activity intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer survivors; a randomised controlled trial |
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| Authors: | Ian M Lahart Amtul R Carmichael Alan M Nevill George D Kitas George S Metsios |
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| Institution: | 1. Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, Institute of Sport, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, UK;2. Life &3. Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK;4. Department of Research and Development, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, UK |
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| Abstract: | The aim of this current randomised controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of a home-based physical activity (PA) intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer survivors. Thirty-two post-adjuvant therapy breast cancer survivors (age = 52 ± 10 years; BMI = 27.2 ± 4.4 kg?m2) were randomised to a six-month home-based PA intervention with face-to-face and telephone PA counselling or usual care. Cardiorespiratory fitness and self-reported PA were assessed at baseline and at six-months. Participants had a mean relative V?O2max of 25.3 ± 4.7 ml?kg?1?min?1, which is categorised as “poor” according to age and gender matched normative values. Magnitude-based inference analyses revealed likely at least small beneficial effects (effect sizes ≥.20) on absolute and relative V?O2 max (d = .44 and .40, respectively), and total and moderate PA (d = .73 and .59, respectively) in the intervention compared to the usual care group. We found no likely beneficial improvements in any other outcome. Our home-based PA intervention led to likely beneficial, albeit modest, increases in cardiorespiratory fitness and self-reported PA in breast cancer survivors. This intervention has the potential for widespread implementation and adoption, which could considerably impact on post-treatment recovery in this population. |
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| Keywords: | Maximal oxygen uptake physical activity intervention breast cancer |
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