Effects of a home based exercise rehabilitation program for cancer survivors

Background: Aerobic and resistance exercises have been promoted recently to improve quality of life in cancer patients. Most cancer survivorship rehabilitation programs consists of supervised exercise programs; however, less data is available on the effects of unsupervised or home-based exercise interventions. The study aimed to compare the physical and physiologic changes in a group of cancer survivors (CS) and a control group of non-cancer, health controls (HC) who participated in individualized home-based aerobic and resistance exercises for 12 months. Methods: Thirty-three surviving cancer survivors (CS) aged 55.6±3 y were enrolled for 1 year of unsupervised exercise prescription programs. Anthropometric parameters hydration status, fitness, and echocardiographic examination were measured every six month and compared to10 HC (aged 52.6 ± 7.7 y) individuals prior to starting the program (t0) and at 6 (t6) and 12 (t12) months. Results: Among the CS subjects a significant reductions in waist circumference t0: 97.5 ±15.2; t6: 86.6 ±13.5; t12: 85.8 ± 13.9, p<0.05; body cell mass% t0: 50.9±4.7; t6: 52.3±4.4; t12: 53.7±3.7; p<0.05 and extracellular mass %, t0: 49.1±4.7 t6; 47.6±4.4, t12: 46.2±3.7, p < 0.05, were observed as well significant improvements in lower body muscle strength (chair test t0: 13.3±4.1, t6: 14.2±3.5, t12: 15.1±3.2; p<0.05). Changes in functionality and heart function were similar between CS and HC’s. Conclusions: Individually prescribed home-based exercise programs were cost effective, safe and resulted in modest improvements in body composition, strength, and total body water distribution with little to no adverse effect on cardiac function.