Australian Association for Exercise and Sport Science position stand: Optimising cancer outcomes through exercise

Abstract

Cancer represents a major public health concern in Australia. Causes of cancer are multifactorial with lack of physical activity being considered one of the known risk factors, particularly for breast and colorectal cancers. Participating in exercise has also been associated with benefits during and following treatment for cancer, including improvements in psychosocial and physical outcomes, as well as better compliance with treatment regimens, reduced impact of disease symptoms and treatment-related side-effects, and survival benefits for particular cancers. The general exercise prescription for people undertaking or having completed cancer treatment is of low to moderate intensity, regular frequency (3-5 times/week) for at least 20 min per session, involving aerobic, resistance or mixed exercise types. Future work needs to push the boundaries of this exercise prescription, so that we can better understand what constitutes optimal, desirable and necessary frequency, duration, intensity and type, and how specific characteristics of the individual (e.g., age, cancer type, treatment, presence of specific symptoms) influence this prescription. What follows is a summary of the cancer and exercise literature, in particular the purpose of exercise following diagnosis of cancer, the potential benefits derived by cancer patients and survivors from participating in exercise programs, and exercise prescription guidelines and contraindications or considerations for exercise prescription with this special population. This report represents the position stand of the Australian Association of Exercise and Sport Science on exercise and cancer recovery and has the purpose of guiding exercise practitioners in their work with cancer patients.

The Kuala Lumpur Qigong Trial for Women in the Cancer Survivorship Phase-Efficacy of a Three-Arm RCT to Improve QOL

“…Increasing evidence are suggesting that physically active cancer survivors have better QoL compared to sedentary patients (Demark-Wahnefried et al, 2001;ott et al, 2006;IOM, 2007). There is a growing evidence that physical activity have additional positive benefits such as prolonged survival (Schmitz et al, 2010), reduced risk of recurrence (Hayes et al, 2009), reduced breast density (milne et al, 2007), improved physical fitness (ohira et al, 2006) and improvement from fatigue (Valance et al, 2007). Engagement in physical activity in moderate intensity physical activity (aerobic, resistance or mixed exercise) for a minimum of 20 minutes, 3 to 5 times per week now forms part of guidelines for cancer survivors, including breast cancer survivors (Hayes et al, 2009).…”

“…There is a growing evidence that physical activity have additional positive benefits such as prolonged survival (Schmitz et al, 2010), reduced risk of recurrence (Hayes et al, 2009), reduced breast density (milne et al, 2007), improved physical fitness (ohira et al, 2006) and improvement from fatigue (Valance et al, 2007). Engagement in physical activity in moderate intensity physical activity (aerobic, resistance or mixed exercise) for a minimum of 20 minutes, 3 to 5 times per week now forms part of guidelines for cancer survivors, including breast cancer survivors (Hayes et al, 2009). Qigong is a traditional form of Chinese (mindbody) physical activity which is similar, but more ancient in origin, to Tai Chi.…”

Exercise for health: a randomized, controlled trial evaluating the impact of a pragmatic, translational exercise intervention on the quality of life, function and treatment-related side effects following breast cancer

“…[4][5][6] Exercise interventions implemented during and/or following treatment lead to improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition (i.e., muscle mass and bone health), immune function, strength and flexibility, body image, self-esteem and mood, and allow for better adjustment to illness. Exercise interventions have also been shown to reduce stress, depression, anxiety and the number and severity of side effects, including nausea, fatigue and pain.…”

“…These benefits have been observed in exercise interventions involving aerobic-and/or resistance-based exercise undertaken for 90+ minutes per week. [6] Further, evidence from large cohort studies indicate This document is a post-print version of the following article: Hayes, Sandra C., Rye, Sheree, Disipio, Tracey, Yates, Patsy, Bashford, John, Pyke, Chris, Saunders, Christobel, Battistutta, Diana and Eakin, Elizabeth (2013) Exercise for health: a randomized, controlled trial evaluating the impact of a pragmatic, translational exercise intervention on the quality of life, function and treatment-related side effects following breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 137 1: 175-186.…”

Effect of physical exercise on muscle mass and strength in cancer patients during treatment—A systematic review

“…However, a range of factors beyond those usually encountered when providing exercise advice in healthy populations must be considered, especially in patients who are undergoing cancer treatment or experience adverse side-effects of treatment [9,10]. Physical exercise is considered to be welltolerated, feasible and safe during and following cancer treatment [5,11] and even cancer patients with advanced stages of disease are willing to engage in physical exercise [12].…”