Fitness outcomes from a randomised controlled trial of exercise training for men with prostate cancer: the ENGAGE study.
The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week, clinician-referred, community-based exercise training program with supervised and unsupervised sessions for men with prostate cancer. The secondary purpose was to determine whether androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) modified responses to exercise training.



Secondary analysis was undertaken on data from a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial in which 15 clinicians were randomly assigned to refer eligible patients to an exercise training intervention (n = 8) or to provide usual care (n = 7). Data from 119 patients (intervention n = 53, control n = 66) were available for this analysis. Outcome measures included fitness and physical function, anthropometrics, resting heart rate, and blood pressure.



Compared to the control condition, men in the intervention significantly improved their 6-min walk distance (Mdiff= 49.98 m, padj= 0.001), leg strength (Mdiff= 21.82 kg, padj= 0.001), chest strength (Mdiff= 6.91 kg, padj= 0.001), 30-s sit-to-stand result (Mdiff= 3.38 reps, padj= 0.001), and reach distance (Mdiff= 4.8 cm, padj= 0.024). A significant difference (unadjusted for multiplicity) in favour of men in the intervention was also found for resting heart rate (Mdiff= -3.76 beats/min, p = 0.034). ADT did not modify responses to exercise training.



Men with prostate cancer who act upon clinician referrals to community-based exercise training programs can improve their strength, physical functioning, and, potentially, cardiovascular health, irrespective of whether or not they are treated with ADT.



Clinicians should inform men with prostate cancer about the benefits of exercise and refer them to appropriately qualified exercise practitioners and suitable community-based programs.



Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ACTRN12610000609055.
Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia.
Cadeyrn J
CJ
Gaskin
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Steve F
SF
Fraser
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Patrick J
PJ
Owen
Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia.|Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
Melinda
M
Craike
Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Liliana
L
Orellana
Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia. trish.livingston@deakin.edu.au.
Patricia M
PM
Livingston
D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Aerobic exercise training; Androgen deprivation therapy; Fitness; Physical function; Prostate cancer; Resistance exercise training