A clinic-supported group exercise program for head and neck cancer survivors: managing cancer and treatment side effects to improve quality of life

Abstract

A progressive strength-training program is feasible for HNC survivors on and following treatment and is associated with improved acute and chronic fitness outcomes and symptom management.

The impact of physical activity on health-related fitness and quality of life for patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review

“…Eight of the nine experimental studies implemented original physical activity interventions,10 12 16–21 while one study compared previous intervention data from two of these studies10 12 to healthy controls in an additional, original article 11. Four interventions examined a resistance-training programme,10 12 16 21 one an aerobics programme,19 two had aerobic and resistance combination programmes,17 18 and one was a hydrotherapy programme 20. Four of the eight interventions started with participant supervision during physical activity and transitioned to independent physical activity,10 12 16 19 while two made use of a fully supervised programme17 20 and two included supervised sessions with an additional unsupervised home-based programme 18 21.…”

“…Four interventions examined a resistance-training programme,10 12 16 21 one an aerobics programme,19 two had aerobic and resistance combination programmes,17 18 and one was a hydrotherapy programme 20. Four of the eight interventions started with participant supervision during physical activity and transitioned to independent physical activity,10 12 16 19 while two made use of a fully supervised programme17 20 and two included supervised sessions with an additional unsupervised home-based programme 18 21. The length of the interventions ranged from 3 to 12 weeks 10 12 16 19 21…”

“…Four of the eight interventions started with participant supervision during physical activity and transitioned to independent physical activity,10 12 16 19 while two made use of a fully supervised programme17 20 and two included supervised sessions with an additional unsupervised home-based programme 18 21. The length of the interventions ranged from 3 to 12 weeks 10 12 16 19 21…”

“…All interventions reported frequency and type of physical activity, but only 62.5% (5 of 8) reported intensity10 12 17 21 and 75% (6 of 8) reported time or duration of the activity 10 12 16 17 21. Progression of physical activity was reported in only five interventions, specific to resistance-training prescriptions 10 12 16 17 21. Three of the interventions were conducted during active radiation or chemoradiation treatment,16 17 19 while three were conducted following radiation or chemoradiation treatment,10 12 18 and one included patients during as well as after treatment 21.…”

“…Progression of physical activity was reported in only five interventions, specific to resistance-training prescriptions 10 12 16 17 21. Three of the interventions were conducted during active radiation or chemoradiation treatment,16 17 19 while three were conducted following radiation or chemoradiation treatment,10 12 18 and one included patients during as well as after treatment 21. One study did not report on the timing of their intervention with regards to radiation or chemotherapy 20…”