title: Effects of a home-based walking training program on cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer treatment is associated with a decline in measured cardiorespiratory fitness and increased fatigue. There is accumulating evidence that exercise training during adjuvant chemotherapy may contribute to prevent these changes. Additional studies are needed to explore the effectiveness of home-based walking interventions among this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week adapted home-based walking training program (WTP) on clinical rehabilitation in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a pilot study using a single-group design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unit Department of Physiology and Medical Oncology, Limoges University Hospital, France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine outpatients predominantly with stage II breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants performed 3 home ambulatory aerobic walking sessions per week at 50-60% of their maximum heart rate for 12 weeks. Functional capacity was assessed with an incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test during which peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) was measured. A six-minute walking test (6 MWT) was performed to evaluate physical function. The revised Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS-R) was used to measure self-reported fatigue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four patients (87%) completed all study procedures. Per Protocol (PP) analysis indicated that VO(2peak) recorded both before and after a 12-week adapted home-based WTP increased significantly by 2.21 mL.kg-1.min-1 (P=0.008) and 6 MWT distance increased significantly by 42 m (P=0.04). PFS-R score increased by 0.4 points, but not significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, home-based WTP is feasible and associated with significant improvements in VO(2peak), with no significant effect on fatigue score. Larger randomized trials are necessary to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: CHU Limoges, Dupuytren Hospital, Service of Physiological Functional InvestigationLimoges, F-87042 France. francois.vincent@unilim.fr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Labourey
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leobon
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lavau-Denes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tubiana-Mathieu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult