Effects of a 12-week strength and aerobic exercise program on muscular strength and quality of life in breast cancer survivors
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN14601208 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14601208 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | TRFE-SI-2019/004 |
| Sponsors | University of Almería, Patronato Municipal de Deportes. Ayuntamiento de Almería. |
| Funders | Universidad de Almería, Patronato Municipal de Deportes. Ayuntamiento de Almería |
- Submission date
- 22/07/2019
- Registration date
- 01/08/2019
- Last edited
- 01/09/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Cancer
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Breast cancer is the type of cancer with the highest incidence worldwide, however, it is well treated with the survival rate nearly 90% at 5-years. As a result, the number of people living with the consequences of the disease and its treatment (loss of muscle mass and strength, shoulder joint problems, lymphedema, cardiac toxicity and decreased quality of life) increases every year. All these disease-related consequences can be improved through physical exercise, especially when resistance and cardiovascular training are combined. In order to maximize the training benefits, individualization is essential. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of 12 weeks of supervised resistance training combined with home-based cardiovascular training on muscular strength in women survivor of breast cancer and to assess how this intervention affects cardiorespiratory fitness, fatigue and different aspects of disease-related quality of life.
Who can participate?
Survivors of breast cancer aged 18-65 who have completed central treatments of breast cancer within the past 5 years
What does the study involve?
60 women will be randomly assigned to either an exercise group (EG) or a control group (CG). The EG which will perform two resistance training sessions per week for 12 weeks (i.e. 2 weeks of one-to-one individual training and 10 weeks in groups of 4-5 participants) and will be required to perform ~10,000 steps per day as home-based aerobic training. The CG will also be required to undertake ~10,000 steps per day as home-based aerobic training but will not perform supervised resistance training. At baseline and at week 12 (i.e. after the intervention) all participants will be assessed for upper- and lower-body muscular strength, estimated maximum oxygen consumption, usual physical activity, range of motion (i.e. shoulder flexion), presence of lymphedema, health-related quality of life, fatigue, depression, and satisfaction with life.
(updated 02/09/2019, previously: 60 women will be randomly assigned to either an exercise group (EG) or a control group (CG). The EG which will perform two resistance training sessions per week during 12 weeks (i.e. 2 weeks of one-to-one individual training and 10 weeks in groups of 4-5 participants) and will be required to meet the WHO physical activity guidelines of at least 10,000 steps per day as home-based aerobic training. The CG will be required to meet the WHO physical activity guidelines of at least 10,000 steps per day but will not undertake resistance training. At baseline and at week 12 (i.e. after the intervention) all participants will be assessed for upper- and lower-body muscular strength, estimated maximum oxygen consumption, usual physical activity, range of motion (i.e. shoulder flexion), presence of lymphedema, health-related quality of life, fatigue, depression, and satisfaction with life.)
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Possible benefits include improvement of physical fitness and several aspects related to quality of life (see primary and secondary outcomes and hypotheses). Potential risks are those intrinsically associated with exercise, such as potential injuries. However, this is unlikely to occur as all sessions will be closely supervised by qualified professionals.
Where is the study run from?
1. Universidad de Almería, Spain
2. Patronato Municipal de Deportes. Ayuntamiento de Almería, Spain
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2019 to December 2019
Who is funding the study?
1. Universidad de Almería, Spain
2. Patronato Municipal de Deportes. Ayuntamiento de Almería, Spain
Who is the main contact?
Dr Alberto Soriano-Maldonado
asoriano@ual.es
Contact information
Scientific
Universidad de Almería
Ctra. Sacramento s/n
Almería
04120
Spain
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-4626-420X |
|---|---|
| Phone | +34950214736 |
| asoriano@ual.es |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Interventional randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Effects of a 12-week exercise program combining strength and aerobic training on muscular strength and quality of life in breast cancer survivors |
| Study acronym | EFICAN |
| Study objectives | 1. Muscular strength will increase in the exercise group compared to the control group at week 12 2. Cardiorespiratory fitness will increase in the exercise group compared to the control group at week 12 3. Range of motion (i.e. shoulder flexion) will increase in the exercise group compared to the control group at week 12 4. Cancer-related fatigue and depression will decrease in the exercise group compared to the control group at week 12 5. Health-related quality of life will increase in the exercise group compared to the control group at week 12 6. Life satisfaction will increase in the exercise group compared to the control group at week 12 |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 31/07/2019, Ethics Committee of the Torrecárdenas University Hospital (Calle Hermandad de Donantes de Sangre, 04009, Almería, Spain; +34 950 016 000; al42_cetico_cht.hto.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es), ref: Ejercicio-CáncerUAL(98/2019) |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Breast cancer survivors |
| Intervention | Current interventions as of 02/09/2019: The study is a randomized controlled trial. Patients will be randomly assigned to either an exercise group (combining supervised strength training and home-based aerobic training) or a control group. A simple randomization sequence will be generated by computer. Each participant will be randomized after meeting the inclusion criteria, signing the informed consent, and performing the baseline (pre-test) assessment. Baseline assessments (pre-test) will be carried out within 15 days before the start of the intervention, and follow-up assessment will be performed at the end of the intervention (week 12). Due to the nature of the intervention (i.e. exercise), it will not be possible to mask allocation to the patients. Investigator will be blinded to the participants' allocation. Exercise group: 12 weeks of exercise combining supervised strength training and home-based aerobic training. The sessions will begin with a warm-up including five minutes of cardiovascular work on a treadmill or cycle ergometer, and about 10 minutes including thoracic mobility, core stability, scapulohumeral joint stability, and dynamic stability exercises. Thereafter, a strength training block will be conducted including two sets of eight repetitions of seven exercises including squat, chest press, deadlift, seated row, leg press, triceps extensions and lat pulldown (specific adaptations will be carried out whenever necessary). The intensity will be set at six out of 10 in the OMNI perceived exertion scale for resistance exercise. The first two weeks will be aimed at familiarization with basic movement patterns and will be on a one-to-one basis. From week three to week 12, there will be group sessions (i.e. 4-5 participants per group). The home-based aerobic training will consist of performing ~10,000 steps per day. Control group: usual care including healthy lifestyle recommendations. In addition, the control group will receive indications to perform ~10,000 steps per day to meet the physical activity guidelines. Previous interventions: The study is a randomized controlled trial. Patients will be randomly assigned to either an exercise group (combining supervised strength training and home-based aerobic training) or a control group. A simple randomization sequence will be generated by computer. Each participant will be randomized after meeting the inclusion criteria, signing the informed consent, and performing the baseline (pre-test) assessment. Baseline assessments (pre-test) will be carried out within 15 days before the start of the intervention, and follow-up assessment will be performed at the end of the intervention (week 12). Due to the nature of the intervention (i.e. exercise), it will not be possible to mask allocation to the patients. Investigator will be blinded to the participants' allocation. Exercise group: 12 weeks of exercise combining supervised strength training and home-based aerobic training. The sessions will begin with a warm-up including five minutes of cardiovascular work on a treadmill or cycle ergometer, and about 10 minutes including thoracic mobility, core stability, scapulohumeral joint stability, and dynamic stability exercises. Thereafter, a strength training block will be conducted including two sets of eight repetitions of seven exercises including squat, chest press, deadlift, seated row, leg press, triceps extensions and lat pulldown (specific adaptations will be carried out whenever necessary). The intensity will be set at six out of 10 in the OMNI perceived exertion scale for resistance exercise. The first two weeks will be aimed at familiarization with basic movement patterns and will be on a one-to-one basis. From week three to week 12, there will be group sessions (i.e. 4-5 participants per group). The home-based aerobic training will consist of performing a minimum of 10,000 steps per day to meet the WHO physical activity guidelines. Control group: usual care including healthy lifestyle recommendations. In addition, the control group will receive indications to perform a minimum of 10,000 steps per day to meet the WHO physical activity guidelines. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Muscular strength assessed at baseline and week 12: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
At baseline and week 12: |
| Completion date | 31/12/2019 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 65 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 60 |
| Total final enrolment | 60 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Women aged 18-65 2. Have undergone breast cancer surgery and have finished core treatment (i.e. chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) in the past 5 years |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Metastatic breast cancer. 2. Not awaiting breast reconstruction in the following 6 months. 3. Any pathology that might prevent them from exercising: 3.1 Decompensated heart failure. 3.2 Unstable ischemic heart disease. 3.3 Severe untreated high blood pressure. 3.4 Moderate-severe valvulopathies. 3.5 Aortic aneurysm. 3.6 Moderate-severe COPD 3.7 Pulmonary hypertension. 3.8 Chronic respiratory insufficiency. 4. Patients who perform more than 300 minutes per week of structured exercise |
| Date of first enrolment | 12/08/2019 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/09/2019 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Spain
Study participating centres
Almería
04120
Spain
Estadio Juegos Mediterráneos
Almería
04007
Spain
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will not be publicly available. Proposals should be directed to the principal investigator (PI) Dr Alberto Soriano-Maldonado (asoriano@ual.es). To gain access, data requestors will likely need to sign a data access agreement. The data will be shared with investigators whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee identified for this purpose. Individual participant data underlie the results reported in the published article after deidentification (text, tables, figures and appendices) will be shared. The data will be available from 9 months to 36 months following article publication. The data will be shared to achieve aims in the approved proposal. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 22/03/2022 | 21/06/2022 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | 01/12/2023 | 01/09/2025 | Yes | No | |
| Protocol article | protocol | 01/11/2019 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
01/09/2025: Publication reference added.
22/06/2022: Internal review.
21/06/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The trial acronym has been added.
05/11/2019: Publication reference added.
08/10/2019: The total final enrolment was added.
02/09/2019: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The interventions were changed.
2. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
15/08/2019: Internal review.
23/07/2019: Trial’s existence confirmed by Junta de Andalucia (Regional Government of Andalucia)
