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A Preliminary Study on the Efficacy of a Community-Based Physical Activity Intervention on Physical Function-Related
C Ellen Lee1, Stuart J Warden, Beth Szuck
1From the School of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (CEL); School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana (SJW); Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Breast Health Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (BS); and Department of Hematology/Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (YKJL).
Objective:
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 6-week community-based physical activity (PA) intervention on physical function-related risk factors for falls among 56 breast cancer survivors (BCS) who had completed treatments.
Design:
This was a single-group longitudinal study. The multimodal PA intervention included aerobic, strengthening, and balance components. Physical function outcomes based on the 4-meter walk, chair stand, one-leg stance, tandem walk, and dynamic muscular endurance tests were assessed at 6-week pre-intervention (T1), baseline (T2), and post-intervention (T3). T1 to T2 and T2 to T3 were the control and intervention periods, respectively.
Results:
All outcomes, except the tandem walk test, significantly improved after the intervention period (P < 0.05), with no change detected after the control period (P > 0.05). Based on the falls risk criterion in the one-leg stance test, the proportion at risk for falls was significantly lower after the intervention period (P = 0.04), but not after the control period.
Conclusions:
A community-based multimodal PA intervention for BCS may be efficacious in improving physical function-related risk factors for falls, and lowering the proportion of BCS at risk for falls based on specific physical function-related falls criteria. Further larger trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
