High-intensity strength training improves quality of life in cancer survivors.
BACKGROUND
Cancer rehabilitation programs mainly involve endurance training, and little attention is paid to strength training. Cancer survivors are generally advised to train at much lower workloads than the standard guidelines for strength training suggest. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an 18-week high-intensity strength training program in cancer survivors.


METHODS
Fifty-seven patients (age 24 to 73 years) who had received chemotherapy for lymphomas, breast, gynecologic, testicular, or colorectal cancer completed the program. Outcome measures were changes in muscular strength (one-repetition maximum), cardiopulmonary function (VO2 max), maximal short exercise capacity (MSEC), body composition and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between baseline and follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The high-intensity strength training was well tolerated by all patients. Significant improvements in muscle strength were found, with effect sizes varying from 1.32 to 2.68. VO2 max increased significantly by 10% in men and by 13% in women. Different functional scales of HRQOL improved (p < 0.01), with effect sizes varying from 0.47 to 0.82. Muscle strength correlated significantly with physical functioning before and after the training program.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that a supervised, high-intensity strength training program seems to be an effective means to improve muscle strength, cardiopulmonary function, and HRQOL and should be incorporated in cancer rehabilitation programs. Further randomized trials are needed to confirm the results.
De Backer
Ingrid C
IC
Department of Sports Medicine, Máxima Medisch Centrum, Veldhoven, The Netherlands. II.deBacker@mmc.nl
Van Breda
Eric
E
Vreugdenhil
Art
A
Nijziel
Marten R
MR
Kester
Arnold D
AD
Schep
Goof
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome