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 consist 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 years 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 to 10 HC (aged 52.6 +/- 7.7 years) 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 cm, t6: 86.6 +/- 13.5 cm, t12: 85.8 +/- 13.9 cm; 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. 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.