Effects of supervised exercise therapy in patients receiving radiotherapy for breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Postoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer has a number of associated complications. This study examined whether supervised moderate-intensity exercise could mitigate the complications that occur during radiotherapy.


METHODS
Forty women were randomized before radiotherapy after various operations for breast cancer. Seventeen patients who were assigned to the exercise group performed supervised moderate-intensity exercise therapy for 50 min 3 times per week for 5 weeks. Twenty-three patients in the control group were asked to perform self-shoulder stretching exercise. The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), brief fatigue inventory (BFI), range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder, and pain score were assessed before and after radiotherapy.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences noted at baseline between groups. In the exercise group, there was an increase in the WHOQOL-BREF and shoulder ROM and decrease in BFI and pain score after radiotherapy. On the other hand, patients in the control group showed decrease in the WHOQOL-BREF and shoulder ROM and increase in BFI and pain score after radiotherapy. There were statistically significant differences in the changes in the WHOQOL, BFI, shoulder ROM, and pain score between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients receiving radiotherapy for breast cancer may benefit in physical and psychological aspects from supervised moderate-intensity exercise therapy.
Hwang
Ji Hye
JH
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, Korea.
Chang
Hyun Jung
HJ
Shim
Young Hun
YH
Park
Won Hah
WH
Park
Won
W
Huh
Seung Jae
SJ
Yang
Jung-Hyun
JH
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome