title: Effect of an exercise training intervention with resistance bands on blood cell counts during chemotherapy for lung cancer: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemotherapy for lung cancer can have a detrimental effect on white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts. Physical exercise may have a role in improving WBCs and RBCs, although few studies have examined cancer patients receiving adjuvant therapies. The purpose of this pilot trial was to examine the effects of an exercise intervention utilizing resistance bands on WBCs and RBCs in lung cancer patients receiving curative intent chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of lung cancer patients scheduled for curative intent chemotherapy was randomly assigned to the exercise intervention (EX) condition or usual care (UC) condition. The EX condition participated in a three times weekly exercise program using resistance bands for the duration of chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 14 lung cancer patients completed the trial. EX condition participants completed 79% of planned exercise sessions. The EX condition was able to maintain WBCs over the course of the intervention compared to declines in the UC condition (p = .008; d = 1.68). There were no significant differences in change scores in RBCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise with resistance bands may help attenuate declines in WBCs in lung cancer patients receiving curative intent chemotherapy. Larger trials are warranted to validate these findings. Ultimately these findings could be informative for the development of supportive care strategies for lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical Trials Registration #: NCT01130714.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Health Education, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay, Ontario P1B 8 L7 Canada.
authors.forename: Kristina H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Karvinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Minges Coliseum, Greenville, North Carolina 27858 USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Minges Coliseum, Greenville, North Carolina 27858 USA.
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Raedeke
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Minges Coliseum, Greenville, North Carolina 27858 USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vick
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27834 USA.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Walker
keywords: Blood counts; Chemotherapy; Exercise; Lung cancer