Using a cultural dance program to increase sustainable physical activity for breast cancer survivors—A pilot study

• Published in: Complementary therapies in medicine Vol. 47; p. 102197
• Main Authors: Loo, Lenora W.M., Nishibun, Kryslin, Welsh, Leslie, Makolo, TeMoana, Chong, Clayton D., Pagano, Ian, Yu, Herbert, Bantum, Erin O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2019; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Anthropometry; Biomarker; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Body mass; Body mass index; Body size; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Cancer Survivors; Clinical trials; Cytokines; Dance; Dance Therapy - methods; Exercise; Female; Heart rate; Hula dance; Humans; Insulin resistance; Insulin-like growth factors; Intervention; Medical prognosis; Mood; Mortality; Obesity; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Pilot Projects; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survival; Survivor; Sustainability; Vigor; Weight reduction; Yoga; Young Adult; Biomarker; Breast cancer; Physical activity; Survivor; Hula dance
• ISSN: 0965-2299; 1873-6963
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102197

•It is feasible for a cultural dance program to increase and sustain physical activity in sedentary breast cancer survivors.•The dance program resulted in a reduction in waist circumference and changes in the levels of circulating biomarkers of obesity and inflammation.•The dance program resulted in an increase in vigor/activity based on measures through quality of life questionnaires. Studies have shown that physical activity can reduce the risk of mortality for female breast cancer patients and improve quality of life, reduce weight, and alter circulating biomarker levels. We conducted a pilot trial to determine the feasibility of increasing physical activity through a cultural dance intervention to achieve similar benefits. Conducted a pilot trial implementing a cultural dance intervention to increase and sustain physical activity for breast cancer survivors, which consisted of a six-month group-based intervention of Hula Dance. Anthropometric measures, fasting blood draws, and self-reported questionnaires to assess physical activity, mood, and quality of life, were completed at baseline, at the end of the 6-month intervention (time point month-6), and at two additional post-intervention time points (month-12 and month-24) to assess sustainability. A total of 11 women with a median age of 63 years were enrolled in the intervention trial. Eight of the 11 (73%) completed the trial to month-12 and demonstrated an overall significant increase in weekly moderate exercise. There were no significant changes in intra-individual body mass index (BMI). However, there was a sustained post-intervention reduction in waist circumference and significant changes in circulating biomarker levels. For the self-reported measures, there was a significant increase in vigor/activity (p < 0.001; Profile of Mood States-Short Form). Our intervention pilot trial demonstrated that a cultural dance program could achieve a sustainable increase in physical activity for breast cancer survivors, with potential to improve quality of life, increase vigor, and decrease levels of circulating cytokines associated with obesity and inflammation.