Effects of a DVD-delivered randomized controlled physical activity intervention on functional health in cancer survivors

• Published in: BMC cancer Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 1 - 870
• Main Authors: Salerno, Elizabeth A, Gothe, Neha P, Fanning, Jason, Peterson, Lindsay L, Colditz, Graham A, McAuley, Edward
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 29.07.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; Cancer; Cancer survivors; Care and treatment; Digital video disk; Exercise; Exercise therapy; Exercise therapy for the aged; Exercise videos; Health care; Intervention; Likert scale; Medical diagnosis; Methods; Older people; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical function; Quality of life; Rehabilitation; Survival; Survivorship; Telemedicine; Telerehabilitation; United States; United States > US; Illinois
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08608-8

Background Supervised physical activity interventions improve functional health during cancer survivorship, but remain costly and inaccessible for many. We previously reported on the benefits of a DVD-delivered physical activity program (FlexToBa[TM]) in older adults. This is a secondary analysis of the intervention effects among cancer survivors in the original sample. Methods Low active, older adults who self-reported a history of cancer (N = 46; M time since diagnosis = 10.7 [+ or -] 9.4 years) participated in a 6-month, home-based physical activity intervention. Participants were randomized to either the DVD-delivered physical activity program focused on flexibility, toning, and balance (FlexToBa[TM]; n = 22) or an attentional control condition (n = 24). Physical function was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) at baseline, end of intervention, and at 12 and 24 months after baseline. Results Repeated measures linear mixed models indicated a significant group*time interaction for the SPPB total score ([beta] = - 1.14, p = 0.048), driven by improved function from baseline to six months in the FlexToBa[TM] group. The intervention group also had improved balance ([beta] = - 0.56, p = 0.041) compared with controls. Similar trends emerged for the SPPB total score during follow-up; the group*time interaction from 0 to 12 months approached significance ([beta] = - 0.97, p = 0.089) and was significant from 0 to 24 months ([beta] = - 1.84, p = 0.012). No significant interactions emerged for other outcomes (ps > 0.11). Conclusions A DVD-delivered physical activity intervention designed for cancer-free older adults was capable of eliciting and maintaining clinically meaningful functional improvements in a subgroup of cancer survivors, with similar effects to the original full sample. These findings inform the dissemination of evidence-based physical activity programs during survivorship. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.govNCT01030419. Registered 11 December 2009 Keywords: Cancer, Exercise, Physical function, Physical activity, Survivorship, Telerehabilitation