Resistance and aerobic exercises in cancer patients: physical capacity and quality of life outcomes

INTRODUCTION: Physical Exercise (PE) is normally used in patients with cancer to reduce the fatigue. The effects of a combination aerobic and resistance training, after a short period, it has not been well investigated. AIM:The study aims to verify the effects of fast walking and resistance exercise, to improve the cardiovascular and body composition parameters in cancer patients. METHODS: A group of 10 cancer survivors (breast and colon) were submitted to a mixed PE program composed in a week by three times of fast walking and two times of resistance exercise. Before to start, they were all evaluated for exercise tolerance and anthphometrics parameters, the exams performed were: 6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT), heart rate, Respiratory Rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at rest and at the end of the 6MWT, the idration evaluation by bioimpedance, the Sit and Reach test for flexibility (S&R), the HandGrip and 30’’ Chair Test for strenght of upper and lower limbs. These exams were performed at the beginning and after 3 months of exercises RESULTS The anthropometrics and idration parameters showed a trend toward a reduction (waist circunference T0: 92.4±19.2, T3: 90.9±17.3 cm p<.05; total water T0: 38.1±8.2, T3: 37.0±7.9 L p<.05). 6MWT data shows an improve of the distance covered (T0: 487.8±116.0 m, T3: 525.6±117.3 m p<.05), the DBP at rest is lower (T0: 76.4±7.1, 72.2±7.1 mmHg p<.05). The flexibility is significantly improved (S&R T0: 0.4±7.4, T3: 4.1±6.1 cm p<.005). CONCLUSION: The combination of resistance and aerobic exercises determine a significant improvement, in a short time, of the principal parameters strongly related with the cardiovascular risks factors and the quality of life. The two kinds of exercise are easily accepted on behalf of the subjects investigated, inducing a larger adhesion to the exercise program in the cancer survivors population.