Abstract
PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine if there were any differences in health-related outcomes and physical activity (PA) between the two OptiTrain exercise groups and usual care (UC), 2 years post-baseline.MethodsThe OptiTrain study was a three-arm randomised controlled trial comparing 16 weeks of concurrent aerobic high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and progressive resistance exercise (RT-HIIT) or concurrent HIIT and continuous moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (AT-HIIT) to UC in 206 patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Eligible participants were approached 2 years following baseline to assess cancer-related fatigue, quality of life, symptoms, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass, PA, sedentary behaviour, and sick leave.ResultsThe RT-HIIT group reported lower total cancer-related fatigue, (− 1.37, 95% CI − 2.70, − 0.04, ES = − 0.06) and cognitive cancer-related fatigue (− 1.47, 95% CI − 2.75, − 0.18, ES = − 0.28), and had higher lower limb muscle strength (12.09, 95% CI 3.77, 20.40, ES = 0.52) than UC at 2 years. The AT-HIIT group reported lower total symptoms (− 0.23, 95% CI − 0.42, − 0.03, ES = − 0.15), symptom burden (− 0.30, 95% CI − 0.60, − 0.01, ES = − 0.19), and body mass − 2.15 (− 3.71, − 0.60, ES = − 0.28) than UC at 2 years.ConclusionAt 2 years, the exercise groups were generally experiencing positive differences in cancer-related fatigue (RT-HIIT), symptoms (AT-HIIT), and muscle strength (RT-HIIT) to UC. The findings provide novel evidence that being involved in an exercise program during chemotherapy can have long-term benefits for women with breast cancer, but that strategies are needed to create better pathways to support patients to maintain physical activity levels.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov registration number: NCT02522260. Trial registered on 9 June 2015. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02522260. Retrospectively registered.
Highlights
Regular exercise has shown to be a highly beneficial therapy to manage and improve the physiological and psychosocial health, disease, and treatment-related side effects and symptoms of women with breast cancer [1]
The aim of this study was to determine if there were any differences in cancer-related fatigue, quality of life, symptoms, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass, and physical activity levels between the two OptiTrain exercise groups and usual care (UC), 2 years post-baseline
In the OptiTrain randomised controlled trials (RCTs), a concurrent exercise regimen of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and high-load resistance training, and a concurrent exercise regimen of moderate-intensity continuous aerobic and high-load resistance training were compared to usual care
Summary
Regular exercise has shown to be a highly beneficial therapy to manage and improve the physiological and psychosocial health, disease, and treatment-related side effects and symptoms of women with breast cancer [1]. A limited number of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise during chemotherapy in women with breast cancer have followed participants for 1 [2], 4 [3], and 5 years [4, 5]. While these studies add important information to the field of exercise oncology, no study has investigated the long-term effects of two different exercise regimens within the same study. The current study provides novel insight into the long-term effects of different exercise modalities within the same exercise trial for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy
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