Activité physique pendant et après le cancer : comment prescrire et dans quels objectifs ?

Abstract

Today, it is well known that the practice of a physical activity counteracts fatigue induced by cancer and its treatment. With a lower level of evidence, physical activity also improves a broad range of quality of life domains during and after cancer treatment. The improvement in body composition and physiopathologic biomarkers associated with the obtaining or maintenance of a good level of physical activity could possibly be associated with a better tolerance and efficacy of cancer treatments. An increase in cancer survival is expected thanks to the reduction of comorbidities associated to sedentary lifestyle or insufficiency of physical activity as well as to a possible effect on tumor growth. Doing nothing to prevent deconditioning and loss of muscle mass of physically active people diagnosed with a cancer is unacceptable. It is also unacceptable to do nothing to change the sedentary behavior and lack of physical activity of people with insufficient physical activity; these behaviors are recognized as a factor of increased risk, mortality and recurrence of cancer. The safety and clinical benefits of the implementation of adapted physical activity programs are demonstrated. The benefit in terms of increase of physical activity reported in these programs must be maintained in the long term. The positive behavior modifications for cancer patients are dependent of the improvement of knowledge and motivation of caregivers, but also of the provision of facilities for physical activity conducted under the supervision of competent professional and probably, of implementation of therapeutic education programs, all of them applied as soon as possible after diagnosis.