title: Improving muscular endurance with the MVe Fitness Chair™ in breast cancer survivors: a feasibility and efficacy study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and efficacy of delivering Pilates exercises for resistance training to breast cancer survivors using the MVe Fitness Chair™.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six female breast cancer survivors were randomized to use the MVe Fitness Chair™ (n=8), traditional resistance training (n=8), or a control group (no exercise) (CO) (n=10). The MVe Fitness Chair™ and traditional resistance training groups completed 8 weeks of exercise. Muscular endurance was assessed pre and post-test for comparisons within and between groups using push ups, curl ups, and the Dynamic Muscular Endurance Test Battery for Cancer Patients of Various Ages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Feasibility of the MVe Fitness Chair™ was good, evidenced by over 80% adherence for both exercise groups and positive narrative feedback. Significant improvements in muscular endurance were observed in the MVe Fitness Chair™ (p<0.002) and traditional resistance training groups (p<0.001), but there were no differences in improvement between the MVe Fitness Chair™ and traditional resistance training groups (p<0.711) indicating that Pilates and traditional resistance training may be equally effective at improving muscular endurance in this population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MVe Fitness Chair™ is feasible for use in breast cancer survivors. It appears to promote similar improvements in muscular endurance when compared to traditional resistance training, but has several advantages over traditional resistance training, including cost, logistics, enjoyment, and ease of learning.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Science, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Australia. eric.martin@nd.edu.au
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Battaglini
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Groff
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naumann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome