NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a recent study, women getting over breast cancer treatment who participated in an 8-week supervised aerobic and strength training program improved their physical fitness and quality of life. Now, a follow up study of the women indicates that some of the physical fitness gains last well beyond the training period.
This is an important finding, the researchers say, given that it is unrealistic to assume that women will continue with an exercise regimen similar to a supervised training program when they're on their own.
In the original 8-week study, Dr. Alejandro Lucia, of the Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain and colleagues randomly assigned 16 breast cancer survivors to an aerobic and resistance training group or a 'control' group. The training group participated in three 90-minute sessions per week.
By the end of the study period, women in the exercise group, compared to the control group, showed improvements in quality of life, cardiorespiratory fitness, strength and muscle function, according to a report in the International Journal of Sports Medicine.
Lucia and colleagues then assessed the effects of 8 weeks of "detraining" on the gains made by 11 women in the original training group.
"We observed that most of the significant benefits induced by training (particularly, improved quality of life and muscle strength) were retained after a subsequent 8-week period with no training," Lucia told Reuters Health.
Gains in cardiorespiratory fitness, however, were rapidly lost during the relatively short detraining period, the investigators report.
"Our results uniquely demonstrate the efficacy of even a brief period of formal exercise programming in developing and retaining training induced benefits during a short period of training cessation," Lucia and colleagues write.
SOURCE: International Journal of Sports Medicine, 2007
Research shows that the benefits of exercise are both physical and psychological. Physical benefits could be a better range of motion or feeling stronger. Psychological benefits include a more positive outlook on life and a better sense of well-being.
The study reviewed here shows that after an eight-week supervised aerobic and strength training program, some of the physical and psychological benefits of exercise last eight weeks AFTER the training program was over.
If you're being treated for breast cancer, try to make exercise (and a healthy diet) part of your daily routine. Think of exercise and a healthy diet as another important part of your treatment plan that helps you recover and stay healthy. Talk to your doctor about how much and how often you should exercise. Ask around and see if any breast cancer support groups near you have organized exercise classes. If you can't find an exercise class through a breast cancer support group, think about joining another exercise class. There's a good chance the class might be able to give you the motivation and support to make regular exercise part of your treatment and recovery. Find the right exercise routine for YOU and then do your best to stick with it! It can make a difference both physically and mentally, today and tomorrow.
Breastcancer.org 7 East Lancaster Avenue, 3rd Floor Ardmore, PA 19003
Learn more about our commmitment to your privacy
© 2008 Breastcancer.org - All rights reserved.
Breastcancer.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information.