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"Chemotherapy-periodized" Exercise to Accommodate for Cyclical Variation in Fatigue
Amy A Kirkham1, Kelcey A Bland2, David S Zucker3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CANADA.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|September 7, 2019
Summary
Chemotherapy-periodized exercise, which accounts for fatigue fluctuations during treatment, improves adherence compared to standard exercise plans. This approach supports cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy by optimizing their exercise routines.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Exercise Physiology
- Cancer Rehabilitation
Background:
- Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience significant fatigue and reduced exercise capacity.
- Standard exercise prescriptions may not adequately address the cyclical nature of fatigue during chemotherapy cycles.
- Optimizing exercise interventions is crucial for improving quality of life and treatment outcomes in cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a rationale for chemotherapy-periodized exercise by examining cyclical variations in fatigue and exercise response during chemotherapy.
- To compare exercise adherence between a chemotherapy-periodized prescription and a standard linear progression prescription.
Main Methods:
- Women with breast cancer receiving taxane-based chemotherapy were assigned to a chemotherapy-periodized exercise program or usual care.
- Fatigue and exercise responses (oxygen consumption) were measured across chemotherapy cycles.
- Adherence rates were compared between the periodized prescription and a historical linear prescription group.
Main Results:
- Fatigue levels significantly increased post-chemotherapy treatment, coinciding with decreased exercise oxygen consumption.
- A chemotherapy-periodized exercise prescription demonstrated higher attendance rates during the week after chemotherapy (77% vs 57%) and overall (78% vs 63%) compared to a standard linear prescription.
- These findings highlight the cyclical nature of fatigue and its impact on exercise capacity during chemotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Exercise capacity and fatigue levels exhibit cyclical variations throughout a chemotherapy cycle.
- A chemotherapy-periodized exercise prescription, designed to align with these fluctuations, can enhance adherence to supervised exercise programs for cancer patients.
- This personalized approach may improve the effectiveness of exercise interventions in managing treatment side effects.