Physical Activity and Physical Fitness of Breast Cancer Survivors After Surgery

Abstract

Background: Highest physical activity (PA) of breast cancer survivors was associated with higher of physical performance, lower mortality rate and higher quality of life. The data of PA in breast cancer patients in Thailand still limited.

Objective: To investigate the level of PA and physical performance of 1-year postoperative breast cancer patients and compare the outcomes of physical performance between patients who met and did not meet the American College of Sport medicine (ACSM) recommendations

Study design: Cross-sectional descriptive study

Methods:  A total of 101 patients with 1-year postoperative breast cancer were included in the study. All patients completed the Thai short version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The PA levels were categorized into patients who met the ACSM recommendations (a minimum of 150 min of moderate-intensity PA per week) and those who did not. Six-minute walk test (6MWT), 30s chair stand test, and hand grip strength test were assessed as the secondary outcomes.

Results:  59.4% of participants achieved the PA level according to the ACSM recommendations. The average time of moderate and vigorous PA was 325.92 min/week and 53.37 min/week, respectively. There was a significant longer 6MWT distance among patients who met the ACSM recommendations compared to who did not (446.5 and 382.7 meters, respectively) (p-value <0.001). Amount of time in 30s chair stand test among patients who met the ACSM recommendations was higher than who did not (13.4 and 11.3 times, respectively) (p-value = 0.005). However, no statistically significant difference of handgrip strength test was observed between the two groups of patients.

Conclusion: The prevalence of breast cancer survivors who achieved the PA level as ACSM recommendations was 59.4%. There were greater outcomes on 6MWT and 30s chair stand test in patients whose PA level achieve the ACSM recommendations. Our study suggests the need for future establishment of a robust PA with higher exercise interventions to enhance the PA behavior in postoperative breast cancer survivors.