The influence of a supervised group exercise intervention combined with active lifestyle recommendations on breast cancer survivors' health, physical functioning, and quality of life indices: study protocol for a randomized and controlled trial

Author(s):Show less -

Riani Costa, Luiz Augusto ^[1] ; Barreto, Raphael F. ^[1] ; de Leandrini, Sarah Milani Moraes ^[1] ; Gurgel, Aline Rachel Bezerra ^[1] ; de Sales, Gabriel Toledo ^{[1, 2]} ; Voltarelli, Vanessa Azevedo ^[1] ; de Castro, Jr., Gilberto ; Fenton, Sally A. M. ^[3] ; Turner, James E. ^[4] ; Klausener, Christian ^[5] ; Neves, Lucas Melo ^{[6, 7]} ; Ugrinowitsch, Carlos ^[1] ; Farah, Jose Carlos ^[5] ; Forjaz, Claudia Lucia de Moraes ^[1] ; Brito, Christina May Moran ^[2] ; Brum, Patricia Chakur ^{[1, 8]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, Av Prof Mello Moraes 65, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Inst Canc Estado Sao Paulo, ICESP, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Birmingham, Sch Sport Exercise & Rehabil Sci, Birmingham, W Midlands - England

^[4] Univ Bath, Dept Hlth, Bath, Avon - England

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo CEPEUSP, Ctr Prat Esportivas, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Santo Amaro UNISA, Masters Program Hlth Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Bipolar Disorder Program, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[8] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Educacao Fis & Esporte, Dept Biodinam Movimento Corpo Humano, Av Prof Mello Moraes 65, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Trials; v. 22, n. 1 DEC 18 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background: Most cancer patients, under active treatment or not, are sedentary, despite increasing scientific and clinical understanding of the benefits of exercise and physical activity, such as improving quality of life, limiting disease symptoms, decreasing cancer recurrence, and increasing overall survival. Studies have shown that both supervised exercise and unsupervised physical activity programs have low adherence and limited long-term benefits among cancer survivors. Therefore, interventions focused on increasing physical activity levels have clinical and psychological relevance. The present study will examine the feasibility and efficacy of an intervention that combines supervised group exercise with active lifestyle recommendations, analyzing its clinical, psychological, physiological, functional, and immunological effects in breast cancer survivors. Methods: Women aged 35-75 years who have completed chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery for breast cancer will be recruited from the Cancer Institute of the State of Sao Paulo (ICESP) and take part in a 16-week, parallel-group, randomized, and controlled trial. They will receive a booklet with recommendations for achieving a physically active lifestyle by increasing overall daily movement and undertaking at least 150 min/week of structured exercise. Then, they will be randomized into two groups: the supervised group will take part in two canoeing group exercise sessions every week, and the unsupervised group will increase their overall physical activity level by any means, such as active commuting, daily activities, or home-based exercise. Primary outcome includes aerobic capacity. Secondary outcomes are physical activity, physical functioning, self-reported quality of life, fatigue, presence of lymphedema, body composition, immune function, adherence to physical activity guidelines, and perceptions of self-image. Discussion: Results should contribute to advance knowledge on the impact of a supervised group exercise intervention to improve aspects related to health, physical functioning, and quality of life in female breast cancer survivors. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/22814-5 - Cancer and heart: new paradigms of diagnosis and treatment
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo Negrão
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/12514-2 - The influence of a supervised group exercise intervention combined with active lifestyle recommendations on breast cancer survivors' health, physical functioning, and quality of life indices: a randomized and controlled trial
• Grantee: Patricia Chakur Brum
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/13133-0 - Relative role of physical activity on mitochondrial density and bioenergetics of infiltrating T lymphocytes from tumor microenvironment
• Grantee: Vanessa Azevedo Voltarelli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/50336-3 - Predicting survival in non-small-cell lung cancer: a link between cancer cachexia, cardiorespiratory fitness and cancer immune surveillance?
• Grantee: Patricia Chakur Brum
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants