A multimodal physiotherapy programme plus deep water running for improving cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of aquatic-based exercise in the form of deep water running (DWR) as part of a multimodal physiotherapy programme (MMPP) for breast cancer survivors. A controlled clinical trial was conducted in 42 primary breast cancer survivors recruited from community-based Primary Care Centres. Patients in the experimental group received a MMPP incorporating DWR, 3 times a week, for an 8-week period. The control group received a leaflet containing instructions to continue with normal activities. Statistically significant improvements and intergroup effect size were found for the experimental group for Piper Fatigue Scale-Revised total score (d = 0.7, P = 0.001), as well as behavioural/severity (d = 0.6, P = 0.05), affective/meaning (d = 1.0, P = 0.001) and sensory (d = 0.3, P = 0.03) domains. Statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups were also found for general health (d = 0.5, P < 0.05) and quality of life (d = 1.3, P < 0.05). All participants attended over 80% of sessions, with no major adverse events reported. The results of this study suggest MMPP incorporating DWR decreases cancer-related fatigue and improves general health and quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Further, the high level of adherence and lack of adverse events indicate such a programme is safe and feasible.
Physiotherapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain; School Clinical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
A I
AI
Cuesta-Vargas
J
J
Buchan
M
M
Arroyo-Morales
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011788:Quality of Life; D012420:Running; D013030:Spain; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
D014867:Water
aquatic exercise; breast cancer survivors; deep water running; fatigue; multimodal physiotherapy