There is evidence that exercise , such as low intensity aerobics walking , Tai Chi , or cycling , results in an overall decrease in fatigue levels over the course of cancer treatment .
Additionally , there is evidence that regular physical activity or exercise can decrease emotional stress , blood pressure , the duration of neutropenia , thrombocytopenia , and pain .
Exercise also has been shown to increase quality of life and improve the maximal oxygen uptake during exertion , sleep patterns , and cognition .
Disease and cancer treatment-related side effects such as decreased energy level , muscle weakness , and declines in functional status and body mass have been well documented .
However , the majority of studies of exercise and cancer have been conducted with women with early stage breast cancer , limiting the generalizability of these studies to other cancer population s. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide a synthesis of the extant research evidence about th e benefits of exercise related to cancer recovery
The effect of seated exercise on fatigue and quality of life in women with advanced breast cancer.
PURPOSE / OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of a seated exercise program on fatigue and quality of life ( QOL ) in women with metastatic breast cancer . DESIGN R and omized , controlled , longitudinal trial . SETTING Outpatient clinic of a comprehensive cancer center . SAMPLE Convenience sample of 38 women who were beginning outpatient chemotherapy . METHODS Subjects were r and omized to a control or intervention group ; the intervention was performance of a seated exercise program using home videotape three times per week for four cycles of chemotherapy . All subjects completed the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue Version IV ( FACIT F ) at baseline and at the time of the next three cycles . Subjects were asked to document the frequency , duration , and intensity of all exercise participation on monthly calendars . MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Exercise , fatigue , and QOL . FINDINGS 32 subjects , 16 per group , completed the study follow-up . With a mixed modeling approach , total FACIT F scores for the entire sample declined at a significant rate ( p = 0.003 ) beginning with cycle 3 but at a slower rate for the experimental group ( p = 0.02 ) . Fatigue scores indicated less increase and physical well-being subscale scores showed less decline for the experimental group ( p = 0.008 and p = 0.02 , respectively ) . CONCLUSIONS Women with advanced breast cancer r and omized to the seated exercise intervention had a slower decline in total and physical well-being and less increase in fatigue scores starting with the third cycle of chemotherapy . IMPLICATION S FOR NURSING Seated exercise may be a feasible exercise program for women with advanced cancer for controlling fatigue and improving physical well-being
There is evidence that exercise , such as low intensity aerobics walking , Tai Chi , or cycling , results in an overall decrease in fatigue levels over the course of cancer treatment .
Additionally , there is evidence that regular physical activity or exercise can decrease emotional stress , blood pressure , the duration of neutropenia , thrombocytopenia , and pain .
Exercise also has been shown to increase quality of life and improve the maximal oxygen uptake during exertion , sleep patterns , and cognition .
Disease and cancer treatment-related side effects such as decreased energy level , muscle weakness , and declines in functional status and body mass have been well documented .
However , the majority of studies of exercise and cancer have been conducted with women with early stage breast cancer , limiting the generalizability of these studies to other cancer population s. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide a synthesis of the extant research evidence about th e benefits of exercise related to cancer recovery