Physical fitness level in Japanese breast cancer survivors

Abstract

It has been reported that physical fitness of breast cancer patients is relatively lower due to the cancer treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, or endocrine therapy. Previous studies have revealed that not only cardiorespiratory fitness but also muscle strength is lower among breast cancer patients than no disease women and these symptoms may aggravate the health-related quality of life. However, there is no study which has focused the physical fitness level in Japanese breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical fitness level and the relationship between exercise habituation and physical fitness level in Japanese breast cancer survivors. Fifty breast cancer survivors participated in this study. Participants were assigned to either exercise habituation group (n=25) or non-exercise group (n=25). We evaluated exercise habituation using an original questionnaire and examined various physical fitness level. Body weight, body mass index, and percent body fat were significantly lower in the exercise habituation group than non-exercise group. T-score of cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly higher in the exercise habituation group than average Japanese women. These results suggested that exercise habituation is relative to body weight and cardiorespiratory fitness level in Japanese breast cancer survivors.

Effect of home-based high-intensity interval training and behavioural modification using information and communication technology on cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise habits among sedentary breast cancer survivors: habit-B study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

“…However, there are currently no effective home-based exercise programme available for improving cardiorespiratory fitness for breast cancer survivors. No studies have precisely investigated cardiorespiratory fitness55; however, a small pilot study did estimate VO 2 based on subjective exercise intensity among Japanese breast cancer survivors. Accordingly, the present study seeks to confirm whether our originally developed home-based exercise programme (habit-B programme) improves VO 2peak compared with treatment as usual with wearable device in sedentary breast cancer survivors in Japan.…”