Physical exercises for breast cancer survivors: effects of 10 weeks of training on upper limb circumferences.
[Purpose] The aims of this study were to verify the effects on upper limb circumferences and total body extracellular water of 10 weeks of Nordic Walking (NW) and Walking (W), both alone and combined with a series of exercises created for breast cancer survivors, the ISA method. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty breast cancer survivors were randomly assigned to 4 different training groups and evaluated for upper limb circumferences, total body and extracellular water. [Results] The breast cancer survivors who performed NW, alone and combined with the ISA method, and Walking combined with the ISA method (but not alone) showed significantly reduced arm and forearm circumferences homolateral to the surgical intervention. [Conclusion] For breast cancer survivors, NW, alone and combined with the ISA method, and Walking combined with the ISA method should be prescribed to prevent the onset and to treat light forms of upper limb lymphedema because Walking training practiced alone had no significant effect on upper limb circumference reduction.
Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, 'G. d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Andrea
A
Di Blasio
Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, 'G. d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Teresa
T
Morano
Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, 'G. d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Ines
I
Bucci
Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, 'G. d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Serena
S
Di Santo
Sportlab, Francavilla al mare, Italy.
Alberto
A
D'Arielli
Health Promotion Association Ipar Izarra Nordic Walking Bilbao, Spain.
Cristina Gonzalez
CG
Castro
Department of Medical Sciences 'M. Aresu', University of Cagliari, Italy.
Lucia
L
Cugusi
Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, 'G. d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Ettore
E
Cianchetti
Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, 'G. d'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Giorgio
G
Napolitano
Anthropometry; Exercise training; Lymphedema