Exercise-oncology is an emerging area, but exist a lack of information about an effective methodology to establish counseling programs long-lasting and not based on research objectives. This observational study objective was to evaluate the feasibility and effective exercise-oncology community intervention in a real patients sample.
The application of exercise-oncology in a real stage is a growing field, having a crucial role throughout the illness. In this sense, exercise has been proved as an effective intervention to prevent reductions in fitness and functional capacity, muscle mass and strength loss; and risings of fat mass, fatigue, anxiety and quality of sleep \[1, 2\]. Moreover, there has been increasing evidence proving the positive effects of exercise training on some prognostic biomarkers related to cancer such as reductions in sex hormone levels, \[3, 4\] insulin levels, \[5\] inflammation levels \[6-9\] and rising the immune function \[10\]. The balance of these biomarkers has been directly linked to an improvement in survival in active patients of breast, colon and prostate cancer. Despite all these benefits, patients and clinical specialists present a reduced adherence to clinical or community exercise-oncology programs, specially when patients are under oncology treatments. In order to provide support, the multidisciplinary roundtable organised by the American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM) published their professional guidelines in 2010 and reviewed in 2018, describing not only the exercise benefits but also the exercise interventions effectiveness \[11, 12\]. In addition, other institutions, such as the American Cancer Society (ACSM) or the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), have highlighted the same idea, publishing general recommendations for cancer patients and cancer survivors to support clinicians and promote exercise adherence \[13, 14\]. However, in Spain, there is still a tremendous lack of these kind of programs. This is really surprising, even more if one considers the statement of the Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica (SEOM) which enlightened the necessity to develop effective community exercise-oncology interventions to support oncologists and patients by ensuring the performance of exercise in safeness conditions as well as a long-lasting adherence to physical exercise \[15\]. For this reason, the main objective of this pilot experience was to propose a feasible model for the implementation of an exercise-oncology program into specific community programs, providing specific support to clinicians. An effective exercise dose-response, to reduce side effects, as well as the safeness and exercise adherence after the program in cancer patients in different stages, were also evaluated.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
405
12-week supervised intervention, 90 minutes sessions twice per week All sessions had the same structure: 10 min of warm-up at 60-70% maximal heart rate (MHR), followed by 60-70 minutes of specific training and 10 minutes of stretching exercises. At least, 20% of the total session time was based on cardiovascular work over 70% of the maximum heart rate (MHR). Fitness work in the first eight sessions was planned following 30 min of time on cardiovascular exercise 55 min on work out in low to moderate intensity. In the next eight sessions, the time spent on cardiovascular work was slightly increased to 35 min, with 50 min focused on work out, combining moderate to high-intensity sessions. The last eight sessions presented the same structure as the first ones but combining moderate to high intensity.
Spanish Cancer Association
Madrid, Spain
Feasibility of an exercise-oncology program
to propose a feasible model for the implementation of an exercise-oncology program into specific community programs, providing specific support to clinicians.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Effective dose-response, safeness and adherence
To evaluate an effective exercise dose-response to reduce side effects, as well as the safeness and exercise adherence after the program
Time frame: 12 weeks
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