title: Dragon Boat training exerts a positive effect on myocardial function in breast cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dragon Boat training is often suggested to control upper limb edema in breast cancer (BC) survivors, but little information is available regarding the cardiac impact of such activity. The present study evaluates this aspect during a 4-year follow-up of BC survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2006 to 2010, 55 women diagnosed with BC in 2005, treated with adjuvant therapy without evidence of metastases, were enrolled for competitive Dragon Boat training. They underwent ergometric tests yearly, and 2D echocardiography to evaluate hemodynamic, morphological and functional cardiac parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data were compared with those from a group of 36 healthy women (HW). Both groups maintained normal systolic function throughout the period, with Cardiac Mass index, Body Mass Index and Ejection Fraction values being higher in HW. At the onset of the study, the diastolic function of BC survivors was normal though compatible with initial diastolic dysfunction when compared to the diastolic function of HW. After 4 years of competitive activity, the diastolic parameters improved in both groups and particularly in BC survivors (A peak: from 68.5 ± 15.1 cm/s to 50 ± 14.1 cm/s, p < 0.05; Ea: from 9.3 ± 2 cm/s to 11.89 ± 1.7 cm/s, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BC survivors experienced a significant improvement in diastolic function after 4 years of Dragon Boat training. Dragon Boat training impacts favorably on the myocardial performance in patients previously treated with chemotherapy. These results support the positive role of sport activity in myocardial function of BC survivors.
authors.affiliation: a 1 Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department, Sports Medicine Center, University of Florence , Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galanti
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Tante
authors.forename: Riggs J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Klika
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012767:Ships; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013318:Stroke Volume; D017741:Survivors
keywords: Sports activity; breast cancer; myocardial performance