Schulz SVW, Laszlo R, Otto S, Prokopchuk D, Schumann U, Ebner
F, Huober J, Steinacker JM.

Disabil Rehabil. 2018 Jun;40(13):1501-1508.

PURPOSE: To evaluate feasibility of an exercise intervention consisting of
high-intensity interval endurance and strength training in breast cancer
patients.
METHODS: Twenty-six women with nonmetastatic breast cancer were consecutively
assigned to the exercise intervention- (n= 15, mean age 51.9 ± 9.8 years) and the
control group (n = 11, mean age 56.9 ± 7.0 years). Cardiopulmonary exercise
testing that included lactate sampling, one-repetition maximum tests and a HADS-D
questionnaire were used to monitor patients both before and after a supervised
six weeks period of either combined high-intensity interval endurance and
strength training (intervention group, twice a week) or leisure training (control
group).
RESULTS: Contrarily to the control group, endurance (mean change of VO2, peak
12.0 ± 13.0%) and strength performance (mean change of cumulative load
25.9 ± 11.2%) and quality of life increased in the intervention group. No
training-related adverse events were observed.
CONCLUSIONS: Our guided exercise intervention could be used effectively for
initiation and improvement of performance capacity and quality of life in breast
cancer patients in a relatively short time. This might be especially attractive
during medical treatment. Long-term effects have to be evaluated in randomized
controlled studies also with a longer follow-up. Implications for Rehabilitation
High-intensity interval training allows improvement of aerobic capacity within a
comparable short time. Standard leisure training in breast cancer patients is
rather suitable for the maintenance of performance capacity and quality of life.
Guided high-intensity interval training combined with strength training can be
used effectively for the improvement of endurance and strength capacity and also
quality of life. After exclusion of contraindications, guided adjuvant
high-intensity interval training combined with strength training can be safely
used in breast cancer patients.