A home based, physical activity intervention increased physical activity, fitness, and vigour and reduced fatigue in sedentary women with early stage breast cancer
Q Does a home based, physical activity (PA) intervention improve fitness and wellbeing in sedentary women with early stage breast cancer?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
{concealed}.*
Blinding:
{unblinded}.*
Follow up period:
12 weeks.
Setting:
Rhode Island, USA.
Patients:
86 women who were ⩾18 years of age (mean age 53 y) and had been diagnosed with stage 0-II breast cancer in the previous 5 years; had completed surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation; were able to walk 1 mile without assistive devices; and were sedentary (exercised <1 time per wk for 20 min at vigorous intensity or <2 times per wk for 30 min at moderate intensity for the past 6 mo). Women with previous cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer) or a medical or psychiatric illness that would make PA compliance difficult or dangerous were excluded.
Intervention:
43 women were allocated to home based PA, which comprised in-person instruction on exercising at a moderate intensity, heart rate monitoring, and “warming up” before and “cooling down” after exercise; encouragement to …
