Feasibility of a Combined Exercise and Recreation Therapy Intervention in Breast Cancer Survivors (2009)
Undergraduate: Leigh McLaughlin
Faculty Advisor: Claudio Battaglini
Department: Exercise & Sport Science
The cancer treatment process is known to give rise to harsh side effects that impact physical and psychological functioning. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of administering a combined exercise and recreation therapy intervention aimed to mitigate some of the physiological and psychological decline commonly observed in post-treated breast cancer survivors. A secondary purpose examined the impact of the combined intervention on fatigue, self-efficacy and quality of life. Methods: Nineteen females participated in the combined intervention 3 times per week for 6 months. The exercise protocol incorporated aerobic, strength and flexibility training. The recreation therapy protocol included expressive arts, leisure counseling, a challenge course, biofeedback, stress management and relaxation training. Results: The adherence to the intervention (percent of sessions completed) was 80.22% over the entire six month program and thus fulfilled the statement of feasibility. A significant decrease in fatigue (p=0.000), increase in self-efficacy (p=0.010) and increase in quality of life (p=0.000) were observed in the post-treated breast cancer patients following the intervention. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the administration of a combined exercise and recreation therapy intervention is feasible and may assist in the mitigation of some physiological and psychological side effects in post-treated breast cancer survivors.