Exercise Preserves Physical Function in Prostate Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Exercise Science
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Bone metastases in cancer patients often preclude exercise participation due to fracture risk.
• Supervised exercise interventions are cautiously approached in community settings for these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a modular multimodal exercise program for prostate cancer patients with bone metastases.
• To assess the impact of exercise on physical function, strength, and safety outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 57 prostate cancer patients with bone metastases.
• Participants were assigned to either a 3-month supervised multimodal exercise program (aerobic, resistance, flexibility) or usual care.
• Primary endpoint was patient-rated physical functioning; secondary endpoints included muscle strength, body composition, and fatigue.

Main Results:

• The exercise group showed significant improvements in self-reported physical functioning and lower body muscle strength compared to the usual care group.
• No significant differences were observed in lean mass, fat mass, or fatigue levels between groups.
• No exercise-related adverse events, skeletal fractures, or increased bone pain were reported.

Conclusions:

• A multimodal exercise program is effective in improving physical function and muscle strength in prostate cancer patients with bone metastases.
• The intervention demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with no adverse skeletal events or increased bone pain.
• This suggests that supervised exercise can be safely integrated into the care of these patients.