title: Maintaining physical activity during head and neck cancer treatment: Results of a pilot controlled trial.
abstract: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (concurrent CRT) to treat head and neck cancer is associated with significant reductions of weight, mobility, and quality of life (QOL). An intervention focusing on functional exercise may attenuate these losses.
  
  
  
  We allocated patients to a 14-week functional resistance and walking program designed to maintain physical activity during cancer treatment (MPACT group; n = 11), or to usual care (control group; n = 9). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, and 7 and 14 weeks.
  
  
  
  Compared to controls, the MPACT participants had attenuated decline or improvement in several strength, mobility, physical activity, diet, and QOL endpoints. These trends were statistically significant (p < .05) in knee strength, mental health, head and neck QOL, and barriers to exercise.
  
  
  
  In this pilot study of patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concurrent CRT, MPACT training was feasible and maintained or improved function and QOL, thereby providing the basis for larger future interventions with longer follow-up. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1086-E1096, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Shuang G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.|Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Neil B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Zora
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Djuric
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Yebin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.|Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Felix Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisbruch
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Francis P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Worden
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Center for Aging and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Strath
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.|Department of Radiation Oncology, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Health Care System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Shruti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jolly
mesh_terms: D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D055070:Resistance Training; D016138:Walking
keywords: functional mobility; head and neck cancer; physical activity; quality of life; radiation therapy