EXERCISE-RELATED SELF-MONITORING AND CHANGE IN MUSCULAR STRENGTH IN PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION THERAPY

Abstract

Self-monitoring is associated with successful health behavior change and improvements in relevant fitness outcomes accompanying lifestyle interventions. Although exercise consistently results in meaningful improvements in muscular strength and physical function among prostate cancer patients (PCa) undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), the extent to which exercise-related self-monitoring is linked with improvements in clinically relevant outcomes among PCa patients remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of the single-blind, randomized controlled Individualized Diet and Exercise Adherence-Pilot (IDEA-P) trial is to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of a combined exercise and dietary (EX+D) intervention, implementing a group-mediated cognitive behavioral (GMCB) approach, relative to standard of care (SC) treatment among PCa patients undergoing ADT. In the current study, we conducted an exploratory analysis to evaluate the relationship between exercise-related self-monitoring in the EX+D intervention and change in muscular strength at 3-months post intervention. METHODS: A total of 32 PCa patients (M age = 65 years) on ADT were randomly assigned to the EX+D (n = 16) or SC (n = 16) interventions. Measures of 1RM chest and leg extension strength were obtained at baseline and 3-month follow-up assessments. RESULTS: Results from a linear regression analysis revealed that frequency of self-monitoring was not significantly associated with increased 1RM chest strength (b = 0.52; SEb = 0.551; r2 = .083; p = 0.364) or 1RM leg extension strength (b = 0.234; SEb = 0.716; r2 = .083; p = 0.751). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that exercise-related self-monitoring was not significantly associated with change in upper or lower body muscular strength observed following the EX+D intervention in the IDEA-P trial. Given the importance of exercise and preservation of muscular strength for PCa patients undergoing ADT, exploring the role of exercise-related self-monitoring in future optimally-power lifestyle intervention trials is warranted.