A 16-week Exercise Intervention Improves Balance In Breast Cancer Survivors And Healthy Controls

Abstract

The ability to maintain balance and postural control are crucial for performing daily activities and preventing falls. Balance worsens with age and decreases can be exacerbated by other conditions, such as breast cancer treatment with chemotherapy. Exercise interventions are one potential method of maintaining or improving balance but have not been extensively investigated in breast cancer survivors (BCS). PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of a 16-week exercise training intervention on balance in BCS and healthy age-matched sedentary controls (HC). Exploratory aims investigated a relationship between muscle strength and balance changes, as well as differences in BCS displaying chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) versus those who did not. METHODS: BCS (n = 30 women, 54.6 yrs (12.0), BMI 27.8 kg/m2 (5.2), n = 11 with CIPN) and HC (n = 14 women, 54.6 yrs (8.4), BMI 28.9 kg/m2 (4.9)) had balance assessed using a Neurocom Smart Balance Master Sensory Organization Test (SOT) before and after a 16-week combined aerobic and resistance training intervention, at a community-based program. Visual, somatosensory, vestibular, preference, and composite scores were evaluated from the SOT. Maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC), isokinetic peak torque (PT), and rate of torque development (RTD) of the knee extensors were determined as measures of strength and power, respectively. RESULTS: At baseline, no statistical group differences in SOT scores were observed. Overall, vestibular [Pre: 69(18), Post: 77(14); p = 0.016] and composite [73(11), 79(9); p < 0.001] scores improved with training. No difference was found between the BCS and control, or CIPN and non-CIPN participants for any of the SOT measures. PT, RTD, and MIVC were not correlated with composite balance scores. CONCLUSIONS: A 16-week exercise intervention program appears to improve vestibular and composite balance scores for BCS and HC. General exercise interventions may be beneficial for both BCS and healthy women in improving balance to prevent falls with age and in clinical populations, although larger sample size are needed to confirm these findings.