title: Effect of exercise on bone structural traits, physical performance and body composition in breast cancer patients--a 12-month RCT.
abstract: In this 12-month RCT, we examined whether aerobic impact exercise training (3x/week) could facilitate breast cancer survivors' recovery by enhancing their bone structural strength, physical performance and body composition. After the adjuvant chemo- and/ or radiotherapy, 86 patients were randomly assigned into the training or control group. Structural bone traits were assessed with pQCT at the tibia and with DXA at the femoral neck. Agility (figure-8 running), jump force and power (force platform), grip strength and cardiovascular fitness (2-km walk test) were also assessed. Training effects on outcome variables were estimated by two-way factorial ANCOVA using the study group and menopausal status as fixed factors. Bone structural strength was better maintained among the trainees. At the femoral neck, there was a small but significant 2% training effect in the bone mass distribution (p=0.05). At the tibial diaphysis, slight 1% to 2% training effects (p=0.03) in total cross-sectional area and bone structural strength were observed (p=0.03) among the postmenopausal trainees. Also, 3% to 4% training effects were observed in the figure-8 running time (p=0.03) and grip strength (p=0.01). In conclusion, vigorous aerobic impact exercise training has potential to maintain bone structural strength and improve physical performance among breast cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Helsinki Metropolia University, Department of Physiotherapy, Helsinki, Finland. riku.nikander@metropolia.fi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nikander
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sievänen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ojala
authors.forename: P-L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Kellokumpu-Lehtinen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saarto
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D017741:Survivors