Exercise after breast cancer treatment: current perspectives

Figures & data

Table 1 Effects of exercise on physical well-being

Study	Mode of exercise, supervised vs home based, group or individual	Duration	Intensity	Outcomes
Irwin et al^Citation16	AE, supervised and home based, group and individual	6 months; 3×/wk supervised; 2×/wk at home; 15–30 min/session	Moderate; 50%–80% maximal heart rate	↓ % body fat, ↑ lean body mass
Saarto et al^Citation19	AE, supervised and home based, individual	12 months; 1×/wk supervised; 2×/wk home based	Step aerobics: 150–180 jumps (10 cm benches); pace at 118 bpm	↑ lean body mass
Brdareski et al^Citation20	AE, supervised, individual	3 weeks; 2×/wk; 20 min/session	45%–65% VO2max	↑ VO2max
Guinan et al^Citation21	AE, supervised and home based, individual	8 weeks; 2×/wk, 21–42 min/session	40%–65% heart rate reserve	↓ waist circumference
Benton et al^Citation24	RE, supervised, individual	8 weeks, 2×/wk	Whole-body progressive; 10–12 reps, three sets	↑ muscular strength
Winters-Stone et al^Citation25	RE, supervised and home based, group and individual	1 year; 2×/wk supervised, 1×/wk at home	Whole-body progressive; three sets at 30%–80% 1-RM	↑ muscular strength
Cormie et al^Citation22	RE, supervised, group	3 months; 2×/wk	Whole-body progressive; 2–4 sets; 12–8 RM load	↑ lean body mass,
Waltman et al^Citation26	RE, supervised, individual	24 months, 2×/wk	Whole-body progressive; two sets; 8–12 reps	↑ muscular strength,
Scott et al^Citation17	C with diet restriction, supervised, individual	6 months; 3×/wk	AE: 30 min; 65%–85% max HR RE: 10–15 min of resistance band exercises	↓ waist circumference, ↓ wait/hip ratio, ↓ resting diastolic BP, ↑ VO2max
Milne et al^Citation27	C, supervised, individual	12 weeks; 3×/wk	AE: 20 min/session RE: whole-body progressive, two sets of 10–15 reps (intensity not defined)	↑ aerobic fitness (aerobic power index cycle test) ↑ muscular strength
Heim et al^Citation30	C, supervised, group	8 months; 2×/wk AE; 3×/wk RE	AE: walking program; 30 min (intensity not defined) RE: intensity not defined	↑ muscular strength, ↑ aerobic capacity
Mills et al^Citation29	C, supervised, individual	5 months; 3×/wk	AE: 10–20 min; 40%–75% VO2max, 8–12 reps RE: whole-body progressive; 1–3 sets at an RPE of 3–7 on the modified Borg Scale	↓ % body fat, ↑ fat-free mass, ↑ VO2max, ↑ meanarterial pressure

Notes: ↑, increase; ↓, decrease.

Abbreviations: AE, aerobic exercise; wk, week; min, minutes; VO_2max, maximal oxygen consumption; RE, resistance exercise; RPE, rate of perceived exertion; bpm, beats per minute; reps, repetitions; RM, repetition maximum; max, maximal; HR, heart rate; C, combined aerobic and resistance exercise; BP, blood pressure.

Table 2 Effects of exercise on emotional well-being

Study	Mode of exercise, supervised vs home based, group or individual	Duration	Intensity	Outcomes
Cadmus et al^Citation37	AE, supervised and home based, individual	6 months, 5×/wk, 30 min/session	60%–80% of predicted max HR	↔ QOL, ↑ improved social functioning
Fillion et al^Citation38	AE, supervised, group	4 wks, 1×/wk, 1 h/session	Walking (intensity not specified)	↓ fatigue, ↑ energy level, ↓ emotional distress
Courneya et al^Citation39	AE, supervised, individual	15 wks, 3×/wks, 15–45 min/session	70%–75% of VO2max	↑ QOL (FACT-B)
Murtezani et al^Citation41	AE, supervised, group	10 wks, 3×/wk, 25–45 min/session	50%–75% max HR	↑ QOL (FACT-G)
Mehnert et al^Citation42	AE, supervised, individual	10 wks, 2×/wk, 20 min/session	60% of VO2max	↑ psychosocial well-being, ↑ individual body image
Rogers et al^Citation43	AE, supervised, individual	3 months, 3×/wk, 15–25 min/session	40%–59% HR reserve	↑ emotional well-being, ↑ functional well-being
Benton et al^Citation24	RE, supervised, individual	8 wks, 2×/wk	Whole-body progressive, three sets of 8–12 reps	↑ QOL
Ohira et al^Citation44	RE, supervised and home based, group	6 months, 2×/wk	Whole-body (intensity not specified)	↑ QOL, ↔ depressive symptom score
Milne et al^Citation27	C, supervised, individual	12 wks, 3×/wk	AE: 20 min/session RE: whole-body progressive, two sets of 10–15 reps (intensity not defined)	↑ QOL
Heim et al^Citation30	C, supervised, group and individual	8 months; 2×/wk AE; 3×/wk RE	AE: walking program; 30 min (intensity not defined) RE: intensity not defined	↑ QOL (FACT-G) ↓ cancer-relatedfatigue
Hayes et al^Citation36	C, supervised and home based, individual	6 wks, 4×/wk, 45 min/session (2×/wk of AE and 2×/wk of RE)	AE: low to moderate to high intensity (specific AE and RE intensity not defined)	↑ QOL ↓ fatigue
Midtgaard et al^Citation40	C, supervised, group	6 wks, 9 h/wk total	Intensity not defined (ball games, aerobics, heavy resistance training, and cycling)	↑ mental health, ↑ social functioning, ↑ emotional functioning
Spector et al^Citation45	C, home based, individual	16 wks	AE: 150 min/wk; 40%–65% HR reserve RE: whole body; 12–15 reps	↑ QOL (FACT-B)
Sprod et al^Citation46	C, supervised, individual	3 months or 6 months, 2–3×/wk, 60 min/session	AE: 40 min; 30%–55% HR reserve RE: whole-body, intensity not defined	↓ fatigue

Notes: ↑, increase; ↓, decrease; ↔, no change.

Abbreviations: AE, aerobic exercise; min, minutes; max, maximum; QOL, quality of life; h, hour; FACT-B, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Breast; FACT-G, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General; RE, resistance exercise; VO_2max, maximal oxygen consumption; HR, heart rate; C, combined aerobic and resistance exercise; wk, week.

Table 3 Effects of exercise on bone mineral density

Study	Mode of exercise, supervised vs home based, group or individual	Duration	Intensity	Outcomes
Saarto et al^Citation19	AE, supervised and home based, individual	12 months; 1×/wk supervised; 2×/wk home based	Step aerobics: 150–180 jumps (10 cm benches); pace at 118 bpm + circuit training (150–180 steps with a 40:60 s training/rest ratio)	↔ femoral neck BMD
Irwin et al^Citation16	AE, supervised and home based, group and individual	6 months; 3×/wk supervised; 2×/wk at home; 15–30 min/session	Moderate; 50%–80% maximal heart rate	↔ total BMD
Winter-Stone et al^Citation67	RE, supervised and home based, individual	1 year, 2×/week supervised + 1×/wk home based	Whole body; 60%–70% 1-RM for 1–3 sets of 8–12 reps	↔ lumbar spine BMD
Dobek et al^Citation68	RE, supervised and home based, individual	1 year, 2×/wk + 1×/wk home exercise	Whole body; two sets of 8–12 reps	↔ lumbar spine BMD
Winter-Stone et al^Citation73	RE, supervised and home based, individual	12 months, 2×/wk + 1×/wk at home	Body weight loaded vest at 8–15 reps of two footed jumps	↔ lumbar spine BMD

Notes: ↑, increase; ↓, decrease; ↔, no change.

Abbreviations: AE, aerobic exercise; s, second; min, minutes; wk, week; BMD, bone mineral density; RE, resistance exercise; bpm, beats per minute; reps, replications.

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