Feasibility Of Physical Activity Intervention Research Articles

Physical Activity: Impact on Survival in Gynecologic Cancer.

Physical activity has many important health benefits. There is also growing evidence that physical activity plays a role in the prevention and prognosis of multiple cancers, including gynecologic malignancies. Despite the many benefits of physical activity, the number of individuals meeting physical activity recommendations remains low. To examine the role that physical activity plays in the prevention, treatment, and prognosis of gynecologic malignancies and to review the feasibility of physical activity interventions among gynecologic cancer survivors. A PubMed search was performed using relevant terms to identify journal articles related to the proposed subject. The websites of multiple national and international organizations were also used to obtain up-to-date guidelines and recommendations. Physical activity appears to decrease the risk of ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancer, with the strongest evidence of this association seen in endometrial cancer. Although the literature is scarce, participation in physical activity is feasible during active treatment for gynecologic cancers and may decrease symptom burden and increase chemotherapy completion rates. Gynecologic cancer survivors are motivated to increase physical activity, and lifestyle intervention programs are feasible and well received among this population. Health care providers caring for women with gynecologic malignancies must counsel patients regarding the importance of physical activity. This should include a discussion of the health benefits and, specifically, the cancer-related benefits. A personalized approach to physical activity intervention is essential.

How can telemedicine optimize the feasibility of a physical activity program in paediatric oncology?

Cancer patients are prone to secondary diseases and side effects due to treatments. Further, they have a tendency towards inactivity, therefore prompting the expression of comorbidities. However, engagement in daily physical activities is beneficial to improve health-related quality of life and functional health. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of a physical activity program for paediatric oncology population throughout treatments. This is an ongoing study conducted at Sainte-Justine University Health Center (SJUHC) since July 2017. It is the first feasibility study of its kind, conducted with intention to treat, including patients between the age of 2 and 21 years old. The experimental group will include 150 patients that will receive exercise-based supervised intervention twice per week throughout treatments. The control group, to be completed one year from now, will include 150 survivors who did not receive exercise-based intervention during treatments. Recruitment for control group started before the experimental group to improve the evaluation protocol. Moreover, the main instrument used to provide and optimize supervision during individual physical activity intervention will be telemedicine web platform. To date, our sample of 43 survivors (predominately of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) within the control group presents a mean age of 11.6 ± 5.7 years; the Male-Female ratio in the sample is respectively of 44% ( n = 19) and 56% ( n = 24). The Incremental Shuttle Walking Test showed that males (927.8 ± 163.6 m) can perform a greater distance than females (674.2 ± 330.7 m), and distance performed by older participants (870.06 ± 280.39 m) was superior to younger participants’ (712.50 ± 237.74 m). In the next few weeks, results of the experimental group, compared to control, will provide insight on the feasibility of physical activity intervention using telemedicine in the paediatric oncology field. This study will provide valuable tools for health professionals who wish to encourage children diagnosed with cancer to exercise.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and physical function in children with cancer from diagnosis throughout treatment

BackgroundChildren with cancer experience severe reductions in physical fitness and functionality during and following intensive treatment. This may negatively impact their quality of life.PurposeTo describe the physical capacity and functionality...

Feasibility of a physical activity intervention for obese, socioculturally diverse endometrial cancer survivors

PurposeDetermine the feasibility of a 12-week physical activity intervention for obese, socioculturally diverse endometrial cancer survivors and to evaluate whether the intervention improves physical activity behavior, physical function, waist circumference, and quality of life. MethodsObese endometrial cancer survivors from Bronx, NY were assigned to either a 12-week physical activity intervention of behavioral counseling, physical activity and home-based walking (n=25), or wait-list control group (n=15). Mixed-design ANOVA (2 groups×2 time points) were analyzed to determine differences between the intervention and the control for the Yale Physical Activity Survey, six-minute walk test, 30-second chair stand test, waist circumference, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endometrial questionnaire. Data are presented as mean±standard deviation. ResultsThe sample was diverse (38% non-Hispanic black, 38% Hispanic, 19% non-Hispanic white). Mean Body Mass Index was 37.3±6.5kg·m−2. Although recruitment rate was low (20% of 140 contacted), 15 of 25 participants in the intervention group attended 75–100% of scheduled sessions. Participants reported walking 118±79min/week at home. There were large effect sizes for the improvements in the six-minute walk test (22±17m vs. 1±22m, d=1.10), waist circumference (−5.3±5.3cm vs. 2.6±6.7cm, d=−1.32), quality of life (10±12 vs. −1±11, d=0.86) and walking self-efficacy (24±30% vs. 1±55%, d=0.87) compared to the control group. ConclusionsThe intervention appeared feasible in this population. The results show promising effects on several outcomes that should be confirmed in a larger randomized control trial, with more robust recruitment strategies.

The Feasibility of Physical Activity Interventions During the Intense Treatment Phase for Children and Adolescents with Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Physical activity may have benefits for children undergoing intense treatment for cancer, but such programmes are challenging to implement. This systematic review aimed to investigate the feasibly of physical activity interventions during intense cancer treatment for children and adolescents. A systematic search of seven electronic databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Public/Publisher MEDLINE, Psychological Information Database, Sportsdiscuss, Excerpta Medica Database, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database) from 2005 to August 2015 was completed. The risk of bias was assessed using the Downs and Black Checklist and The Critical Review Form-Qualitative Studies. Results were summarised descriptively across eight domains of feasibility: acceptability, demand, implementation, adaptation, practicality, integration, expansion and limited efficiency testing (including effectiveness). Eleven quantitative studies and one qualitative study were identified for inclusion. Physical activity interventions were typically supervised, individualised programmes that prescribed a variety of activity types for hospital inpatients. There was evidence that physical activity interventions during the intense phase of cancer treatment were acceptable to parents and children, safe and successfully implemented. A trend of positive effects across all aspects of functioning was noted. Data were unavailable documenting feasibility for the domains of integration, adaptation and expansion. There is preliminary evidence that physical activity interventions are feasible, in that they are acceptable, safe and potentially beneficial for children with cancer but more work needs to be done to understand the most effective ways to implement these types of programmes.

Feasibility of a physical activity intervention for ethnically diverse endometrial cancer survivors.

5598 Background: To determine the feasibility of a 12-week physical activity (PA) intervention guided by social cognitive theory for ethnically diverse endometrial cancer (EC) survivors and to eval...

Exercise therapy – the public health message

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, are currently responsible for 65% of all deaths worldwide and are projected to cause over 75% of all deaths by 2030. A substantial accumulation of epidemiological and experimental evidence has established a causal relationship between NCDs and well-known yet preventable risk factors (e.g., physical inactivity and obesity). Given that physical activity has both direct and indirect effects on the mortality and morbidity of NCDs via other risk factors (e.g., obesity, diabetes, and hypertension), it is now undeniable that sedentary lifestyles are one of the most significant public health problems of the 21st century. In 2007, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and American Medical Association (AMA) launched the Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) initiative in recognition of the fundamental importance of physical activity to health and well-being. EIM is on the forefront of a global movement to reduce sedentary lifestyles, foster implementation of exercise counseling into clinical practice, and disseminate exercise therapy on a global scale. If the devastating human losses and financial burden of inactivity-induced chronic disease are to be ameliorated, the wide-ranging cost-effective health benefits and financial feasibility of physical activity interventions must be appreciated and promoted.