Responsiveness to Resistance-Based Multimodal Exercise Among Men With Prostate Cancer Receiving Androgen Deprivation...

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in the management of prostate cancer (PCa) results in an array of adverse effects, and exercise is one strategy to counter treatment-related musculoskeletal toxicities. This study assessed the prevalence of exercise responsiveness in men with PCa undergoing ADT in terms of body composition, muscle strength, and physical function.

Prospective analyses were performed in 152 men (aged 43-90 years) with PCa receiving ADT who were engaged in resistance exercise combined with aerobic or impact training for 3 to 6 months. Whole-body lean mass and fat mass (FM), trunk FM, and appendicular skeletal muscle were assessed with dual x-ray absorptiometry; upper and lower body muscle strength were assessed with the one-repetition maximum; and physical function was assessed with a battery of tests (6-m usual, fast, and backward walk; 400-m walk; repeated chair rise; stair climb).

Significant improvements were seen (P<.01) in lean mass (0.4±1.4 kg [range, -2.8 to +4.1 kg]), appendicular skeletal muscle (0.2±0.8 kg [range, -1.9 to +1.9 kg]), and all measures of muscle strength (chest press, 2.9±5.8 kg [range, -12.5 to +37.5 kg]; leg press, 29.2±27.6 kg [range, -50.0 to +140.0 kg]) and physical function (from -0.1±0.5 s [range, +1.3 to -2.1 s] for the 6-m walk; to -8.6±15.2 s [range, +25.2 to -69.7 s] for the 400-m walk). An increase in FM was also noted (0.6±1.8 kg [range, -3.6 to +7.3 kg]; P<.01). A total of 21 men did not exhibit a favorable response in at least one body composition component, 10 did not experience improved muscle strength, and 2 did not have improved physical function. However, all patients responded in at least one of the areas, and 120 (79%) favorably responded in all 3 areas.

Despite considerable heterogeneity, most men with PCa receiving ADT responded to resistance-based multimodal exercise, and therefore our findings indicate that this form of exercise can be confidently prescribed to produce beneficial effects during active treatment.