GET FIT Prostate: A Randomized Controlled Exercise Trial

The GET FIT Prostate trial (Group Exercise Training for Fall prevention and functional Improvements during and after Treatment for Prostate cancer) is a single-blind, parallel group, randomized controlled trial comparing - 1) tai ji quan (functional balance) and 2) strength training (functional strength) against each other and vs. 3) a stretching control (functional mobility) - over a 6-mos. supervised intervention and 6-mos. follow-up. Two million prostate cancer survivors are alive in the U.S. and nearly half (45%) will receive androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to reduce tumor androgen exposure and slow down cancer progression. While beneficial for cancer survival, significant treatment-induced side effects from ADT may lead to serious health consequences including falls, frailty, and dysfunction that contribute to morbidity and mortality

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine and compare the efficacy of tai ji quan training and strength training in reducing the incidence of falls in prostate cancer survivors on antiandrogen therapy (ADT).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine and compare the efficacy of tai ji quan training and strength training to reduce frailty and dysfunction in prostate cancer survivors on ADT.

TERTIARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine how well the benefits of tai ji quan and strength interventions persist over a 6-month period.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. To explore the patterns and predictors of types of men (including host and treatment factors) who benefit most from tai ji quan and strength training.

OUTLINE:

The study is a 3-group, single-blind, parallel design randomized controlled trial in prostate cancer survivors treated with ADT. Participants in each study group will attend supervised 1-hr classes, 3 days a week for 6 months.

ARM 1: Tai ji quan, an integrated exercise routine consisting of 8 purposeful movement forms and a set of therapeutic movements, specifically designed to challenge limits of stability and train gait patterns, as reflected in movements such as upright trunk positioning, displacement of body's center of mass over the weight-bearing leg, and step initiation, locomotion, and termination.

ARM 2: Strength training. Participants wear a weighted vest while performing exercises using functional movement patterns that challenge balance by using muscle groups and movement involved in everyday activities (chair rises, 90°squats, side-to-side squats, toe raises, lunges (forward, lateral, backward, walking), multi-directional step ups).

ARM 3: Stretching control. Participants in the control group will attend a supervised flexibility program of the same total weekly duration as the experimental arms (e.g., 3, 60-min sessions per week). Control participants will perform a series of whole body stretching exercises, according to the ACSM guidelines for flexibility training, with a focus on developing and maintaining a healthy back.

Six Month Follow-Up: Participants will be followed for an additional 6 months after the 6-month supervised intervention stops to track falls (using same monthly report used during intervention phase). Exercise questionnaires to track participation in home or community exercise programs and will be collected at the 9- and 12-month time periods.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed with histologically confirmed prostate cancer (confirmed by self-report on Health History Questionnaire. In the case a participant isn't able to confirm this criterion, a letter will be sent to his physician.)
* Currently on ADT for \>= 6 months OR not currently receiving ADT, but received \>= 6-month course within the last 10 years (confirmed by self-report on Health History Questionnaire. In the case a participant isn't able to confirm this criterion, a letter will be sent to his physician.)
* If they have had other treatment, such as surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, it must have been completed \>= 6 weeks prior to enrollment and no concurrent adjuvant therapy other than ADT for prostate cancer (confirmed by self-report on Health History Questionnaire. In the case a participant isn't able to confirm this criterion, a letter will be sent to his physician).
* Meets criteria for having experienced \>= 1 fall in the last year (confirmed by self-report on Health History Questionnaire) or if no falls, meets criteria for slow Timed Up and Go (TUG) time (\>= 12.0 seconds) OR slow chair stand time (\>= 10.0 seconds) (confirmed by baseline screening testing).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current participation in moderate or vigorous lower-body strength training two or more times per week for 30 minutes or more or participating in tai chi two or more times per week for 30 minutes or more (confirmed by self-report on Health History Questionnaire or by discretion of the principal investigator).
* Cognitive difficulties that preclude answering the survey questions, participating in the exercise classes or performance tests, or providing informed consent (Confirmed by the professional opinion of the principal investigator, Dr. Kerri Winters-Stone.).
* A medical condition, movement or neurological disorder, or medication use that contraindicates participation in moderate intensity exercise (Confirmed by self-report on the Health History Questionnaire, and/or by physician clearance. If in the professional opinion of the principal investigator, Dr. Kerri Winters-Stone, contraindications other than those identified by the patient or physician are present, she may consider the participant ineligible.).
* Not medically cleared for participation in moderate intensity exercise. (Confirmed by physician clearance.).
* Knowingly unable to attend \> 75% of the intervention classes due to conflict with the designated time of day, days of the week, and/or location for the exercise class which they initially enrolled. (Confirmed by documentation in the Case Report Form titled "CRF - Participant Contact Info_GET FIT Prostate").
* Not fluent in English and therefore incapable of answering survey questions, participating in class, following directions during performance testing, and providing informed consent when English is the language used. (Confirmed by documentation in the Case Report Form titled "CRF - Participant Contact Info_GET FIT Prostate" or the professional opinion of the principal investigator, Dr. Kerri Winters-Stone.).