Exercise interventions for improving health in breast cancer survivors
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Comparing a technology-enabled, remote advisory exercise intervention to supervised structured exercise in breast cancer survivors: a randomised and controlled non-inferiority trial
IRAS ID
245256
Contact name
James Turner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bath
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Breast cancer survivors have a reduced quality of life following treatment. Exercise interventions in breast cancer survivors have shown positive effects on the lifestyle of patients and are linked to a lower risk of cancer recurrence. Technology-enabled exercise interventions, using an electronic physical activity tracker, are a promising strategy to promote an active lifestyle as do not require trained personal or fitness facilities This study aims to determine whether a technology enabled, remote advisory exercise intervention programme produces changes to cardiorespiratory fitness that are not meaningfully inferior to changes in cardiorespiratory fitness in response to a prescribed, partly supervised exercise programme. It is hypothesised that an 8-week technology enabled, remote, advisory exercise intervention will result in increases to cardiorespiratory fitness that are almost identical to the supervised exercise trial (a difference between trials of no more than 3 ml.kg.ml.min-1). Eligible participants will be untrained individuals with previous breast cancer diagnoses. Following baseline laboratory testing, 40 women (aged 35-69 years) will be randomised to one of two 8-week intervention groups, both designed to increase physical activity. The partly supervised, prescribed group will undertake two supervised and one unsupervised exercise sessions per week at 55-70% VO2max totalling to 105-150 minutes per week. The remote, advisory group will receive a Polar A370 fitness tracker and will complete 105-150 minutes of activity per week. These participants will also receive weekly feedback via a telephone call to discuss activity goals and targets. Outcome measurements to be assessed are: cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, physical functioning, dietary intake, physical activity, psychological and physiological measures of health and wellbeing, immune function. This study will provide important insights regarding the easiest and most effective approaches in promoting health lifestyles in breast cancer survivors.
Summary of Results
This study investigated whether 8-weeks of exercise improves fitness and body weight among 30 female breast cancer survivors 1-2 years after their treatment had finished. The participants in this study were randomised into two groups. The first group was a partly-supervised exercise group. The 15 members of this group were asked to undertake 2 supervised and 1 unsupervised exercise session per week. The second group was a technology-supported group. The 15 members of this group were given a smart watch fitness tracker and were asked to undertake 3 unsupervised exercise sessions each week. In both groups, the exercise got harder each week, progressing from moderate to vigorous intensity, and it got longer too, progressing from 35-50 minutes per session. Fitness and body weight (including the amount of muscle and fat in the body) did not change among participants in either group. The distance participants were able to walk in 6-minutes improved in the partly-supervised group, and the number of times participants could stand up and sit down from a chair in 30 seconds improved in both groups. Participant adherence to exercise was higher in the partly-supervised exercise group (around 87% of sessions were completed) and lower in the technology-supported exercise group (around 64% of sessions were completed). In summary, both partly-supervised and technology-supported exercise can improve some aspects of physical functioning among breast cancer survivors.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
18/WA/0314
Date of REC Opinion
24 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion