title: The Effects of Resistance Training on Physical Function and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors.
abstract: Breast cancer survivors (BCS) exhibit decreased physical function and quality of life (QOL) following cancer treatments. Resistance training (RT) may elicit positive changes in physical and mental well-being. This study assessed 27 BCS, pre-and post-intervention (six months) on the following variables: muscular strength (via one repetition maximum (1RM) of chest press and leg extension), physical function (via the Continuous Scale-Physical Functional Performance test) and QOL (via the Short Form-36 survey). RT consisted of two days/week of ten exercises including two sets of 8-12 repetitions at 52%-69% of their 1RM. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed BCS significantly (p < 0.05) increased upper (71 ± 22 to 89 ± 22 kg) and lower body (74 ± 18 to 93 ± 24 kg) strength, total physical function (65.5 ± 12.1 to 73.6 ± 12.2 units) and the subcomponents of physical function: upper body strength (63.5 ± 16.3 to 71.2 ± 16.8 units), lower body strength (58.5 ± 14.9 to 68.6 ± 16.3 units), balance and coordination (66.5 ± 12.2 to 74.6 ± 11.6 units), and endurance (67.2 ± 12.0 to 75.0 ± 11.6 units). No changes were observed over time for subjective measures of physical function and QOL. Results showed RT could be an effective means to improve objective physical function in BCS. Further research is needed to clarify the effects of RT on subjective physical function and QOL.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Human Performance, Georgia College and State University, Campus Box 112, Milledgeville, GA 31061, USA. Emily.simonavice@gcsu.edu.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simonavice
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition and Dietetics, The University of AkronSchrank Hall South 210M, Akron, OH 44325, USA. liu4@uakron.edu.
authors.forename: Pei-Yang
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. jilichernst@fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Jasminka Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Ilich
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. jkim6@fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Jeong-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Center for Advancing Exercise and Nutrition Research on Aging, Florida State University, 0412 Sandals Bldg., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. barjmandi@fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Bahram H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Arjmandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. lpanton@fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Lynn B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Panton
keywords: breast cancer survivors; physical function; quality of life; resistance training