Abstract
The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a combined cardiorespiratory
and resistance exercise training program of short duration on the cardiorespiratory
fitness, strength endurance, task specific functional muscle capacity, body composition
and quality of life (QOL) in women breast cancer survivors. Sixteen subjects were
randomly assigned to either a training (n = 8; age: 50 ± 5 yrs) or control non-exercising
group (n = 8; age: 51 ± 10 yrs). The training group followed an 8-week exercise program
consisting of 3 weekly sessions of 90-min duration, supervised by an experienced investigator
and divided into resistance exercises and aerobic training. Before and after the intervention
period, all of the subjects performed a cardiorespiratory test to measure peak oxygen
uptake (V·O2peak), a dynamic strength endurance test (maximum number of repetitions for chest and
leg press exercise at 30 - 35 % and 100 - 110 % of body mass, respectively) and a
sit-stand test. Quality of life was assessed using the European Organization for Research
and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC-C30) questionnaire. In response to training,
QOL, V·O2peak (mean 3.9 ml/kg/min; 95 % CI, 0.93, 6.90) performance in leg press (17.9 kg; 95 %
CI, 12.8, 22.4) and sit-stand test (- 0.67 s; 95 % CI, - 0.52, - 1.2) improved (p
≤ 0.05). We observed no significant changes in the control group. Combined cardiorespiratory
and resistance training, even of very brief duration, improves the QOL and the overall
physical fitness of women breast cancer survivors.
Key words
V·O2peak
- exercise - disease - resistance - quality of life - sit-stand test
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A. Lucía
Universidad Europea de Madrid
Villaviciosa de Odón
28670 Madrid
Spain
Phone: + 34916647800
Fax: + 34 9 16 16 82 65
Email: alejandro.lucia@uem.es