Effects of Supervised Exercise Therapy in Patients Receiving Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer

Abstract

PurposePostoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer has a number of associated complications. This study examined whether supervised moderate-intensity exercise could mitigate the complications that occur during radiotherapy.Patients and MethodsForty women were randomized before radiotherapy after various operations for breast cancer. Seventeen patients who were assigned to the exercise group performed supervised moderate-intensity exercise therapy for 50 min 3 times per week for 5 weeks. Twenty-three patients in the control group were asked to perform self-shoulder stretching exercise. The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), brief fatigue inventory (BFI), range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder, and pain score were assessed before and after radiotherapy.ResultsThere were no significant differences noted at baseline between groups. In the exercise group, there was an increase in the WHOQOL-BREF and shoulder ROM and decrease in BFI and pain score after radiotherapy. On the other hand, patients in the control group showed decrease in the WHOQOL-BREF and shoulder ROM and increase in BFI and pain score after radiotherapy. There were statistically significant differences in the changes in the WHOQOL, BFI, shoulder ROM, and pain score between the groups.ConclusionPatients receiving radiotherapy for breast cancer may benefit in physical and psychological aspects from supervised moderate-intensity exercise therapy.

The Efficacy of Exercise Therapy in Reducing Shoulder Pain Related to Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

“…13,[19][20][21][22] We were not able to perform a meta-analysis because of the heterogeneity of the exercise types included in each study's exercise regime and the timing of these exercise regimes in relation to cancer treatment (see Table 2 for specific details of the included studies). This section summarizes each study's findings, discussing types of exercises used and their association with outcome measures of pain.…”

A cinesioterapia reduz a dor no membro superior de mulheres submetidas à mastectomia ou quadrantectomia

“…Pain is a common complaint during treatment and negatively impacts daily life and QL 2,3,[5][6][7][8]12 . In this context, physical therapy participates in post-surgical complications prevention and in early rehabilitation for daily life activities [7][8][9][10][11]13 . In our study, radical mastectomy was predominant and it is believed that the larger the extension of AL-related surgery, the higher the possibility of complications 2,5,6 .…”

“…Kinesiotherapy protocol for UULL involved cervical stretching and active-free shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation and external rotation movements, isolated or in combination. Exercises were progressively applied according to each patient's evolution 12,13 . Kinesiotherapy and application of questionnaires were conducted by two duly trained researchers.…”

“…Pain deserves attention for being directly related to physical and emotional wellbeing, to performance and achievement of daily life activities (DLA), as well as to quality of life (QL) [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] . In this sense, kinesiotherapy after surgical procedures is critical to prevent and manage pain 10,11,13,14 . Early kinesiotherapy with stretching, active-free and active-assisted exercises for the upper limb (UL), helps preventing and managing pain symptoms, being indispensable tool to reestablish physical function and labor, social and functional reinsertion of these females 10,11 .…”

Impact of a Home-Based Walking Intervention on Outcomes of Sleep Quality, Emotional Distress, and Fatigue in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Solid Tumors

“…We chose these analyses based on other studies in which crossover occurred [7,37]. A dose-response analysis evaluated outcomes adjusting for the actual amount of exercise performed, regardless of group assignment.…”