Analgesic Effect of Resistance Training for Breast Cancer Survivors
Condition: Breast Cancer; Surgery; Chemotherapy Effect; Radiotherapy Side Effect; Pain, Chronic
MeSH terms: Breast Neoplasms; Chronic Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Persistent pain after treatment for breast cancer is a major clinical problem, affecting
      25-60 % of the patients and is a source of considerable physical disability and psychological
      distress. Thus, the development of novel interventions to improve pain management for these
      patients is of clinical importance. Resistance training (RT) is a promising tool to combat a
      variety of undesirable adverse effects due to breast cancer treatment. Further, research
      suggests that it may also be able to provide pain-relieving benefits.

      Hypothesis: Resistance training will improve pain perception and physical function in the
      short- and long term compared to a non-training control group.
    

Detailed description: 
      Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide with more than a million new cases
      diagnosed every year [1]. Fortunately, due to better treatment options, the population of
      long-term survivors is increasing. This poses new demands for knowledge on how to manage late
      effects to the treatment regimen. Persistent pain after treatment for breast cancer is a
      common and underestimated problem as well as it can be a source of considerable physical
      disability and psychological distress [2]. Hence, the development of novel interventions to
      improve pain management is of high clinical relevance. Resistance training (RT) is a
      promising clinical therapeutic tool to improve a variety of adverse effects to breast cancer
      treatment [3] and may provide several pain-relieving benefits [4]. However, the efficacy of
      this modality for managing persistent pain after breast cancer treatment is currently
      unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to investigate if individualized RT can
      modulate persistent pain after breast cancer treatment, thereby improving our understanding
      of how this modality may benefit patients and contribute to clinical guidelines for pain
      management in this clinical population.
    

Intervention name(s): Training; Control
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): The experimental group will perform a supervised progressive resistance training program, with five exercises for the upper- and lower body (box squat, bench press, trap bar deadlift, bench pull and lat pulldown), 2x/week for a 12 week period. The program will utilize a flexible progression system through three distinct training phases; 1) 2-4 sets of 10-12 repetitions, 2) 2-4 sets of 6-8 repetitions, 3) 2-4 sets of 2-4 repetitions. Number of sets are adjusted within session according to daily readiness while load is adjusted within and between sessions according to number of reps performed. A 3-5min rest period is provided throughout the program.; The control group will be instructed to continue their everyday lifestyle with no specific instruction regarding exercise and/or diet. However, they will be encouraged not to engage in new forms of exercise or physical activity throughout the study period.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Persistent Pain; Breast cancer treatment; Physical function; Quality of life; Resistance training; Analgesic effect of resistance training of persistent pain after breast cancer (ANTRAC)