Effectiveness of a Home-Based Exercise Intervention in the Fitness Profile of Hispanic Survivors of Breast Cancer

• Published in: Rehabilitation oncology Vol. 39; no. 4; p. 175
• Main Authors: Ortiz, Alexis, Hughes, Daniel C, Mama, Scherezade K, Tirado-Gomez, Maribel, Liao, Yue, Song, JaeJoon, Gonzalez, Velda, Basen-Engquist, Karen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Hispanic; physical activity; women
• ISSN: 2168-3808
• DOI: 10.1097/01.REO.0000000000000253

Home-based exercise interventions might be a desirable long-term option for breast cancer survivors to enhance compliance and long-term health benefits. To assess the effectiveness of a home-based intervention aimed at helping survivors of breast cancer meet the physical activity guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine. Eighty-nine women (age: 55.4 ± 10 years; BMI: 31 ± 6.5 kg/m ) from two cancer centers serving Hispanic women participated in this study. Women performed a baseline assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle endurance and strength, flexibility, range of motion, and extremity disability. After baseline measures, women were randomized into a control (C) or exercise (E) group. The exercise intervention consisted of a walking program, elastic band strengthening, and flexibility exercises performed at home. The outcome measures were reassessed 16 weeks after baseline measures. The intervention showed a strong effect of time on muscle strength and shoulder range of motion, and time and group for self-reported disability. There were no differences in sedentary behavior, physical fitness, and disability measures across intervention groups, including both exercise groups combined and changes over time between intervention groups. It appears that a home-based intervention affects only upper body strength and related disability, indicating that other components might need closer monitoring for significant changes to occur across time.