Regardless of when the participants started their exercise programs, both groups were back to their baseline scores at their 1-year checkup.
However, the VO2peak levels of people who participated in the exercise program during their chemotherapy treatment period did not decline as much, and at 3 months following their treatment window, their levels had returned to normal. In comparison, the VO2peak levels in Group B declined for a longer period but also caught up after their 3 months of supervised exercise post-chemotherapy.
“These findings suggest that the most optimal timing of physical exercise is during chemotherapy,” says study author Dr. Annemiek M.E. Walenkamp. “However, initiating a physical exercise program after chemotherapy is a viable alternative when exercising during chemotherapy is not possible.
Dr. Walenkamp is an oncologist at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands.
“We hope our findings motivate healthcare providers to guide patients to engage in exercise interventions during anti-cancer treatment,” says Dr. Walenkamp.
Dr. Rami Hashish, body performance and injury expert and founder of National Biomechanics Institute, spoke with Medical News Today about the study.
Dr. Hashish noted that the study provides “evidence that supervised aerobic and anaerobic exercise during chemotherapy can help prevent fatigue and limit losses in muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, in turn resulting in a higher quality of life relative to not performing exercise.”
“The findings further suggest that all is not lost in individuals who cannot exercise during chemotherapy, as a supervised exercise program upon the completion of chemo will allow these patients to achieve similar levels of function within one year.”
— Dr. Rami Hashish
Dr. Hashish said that people undergoing chemotherapy treatments should talk with their doctors about what is best for them in terms of exercise but thought walking and riding on a stationary bike could be safe.
“I would caution against the intensity of exercise as opposed to avoiding a particular exercise, although the intensity will be dictated by one’s particular condition and should also be set by a supervising medical practitioner,” said Dr. Hashish.
Dr. Samantha Edwards, a physical therapy provider, also weighed in and said the study “demonstrates the immediate impact of exercise in the prevention of decline during chemotherapy.”
Dr. Edwards is the assistant manager for rehabilitative services at Atlantic Rehabilitation in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey. She oversees the Moving Beyond program, an exercise program for oncology patients post-treatment.
There are numerous benefits to exercising during chemotherapy treatments, which Dr. Edwards elaborated on for MNT.
“These can include improved fatigue, cardiovascular endurance, strength, and quality of life,” said Dr. Edwards. “Exercising can also help improve patients’ balance, which can be impacted during chemotherapy if the patient is struggling with peripheral neuropathy.”
“A balanced program that includes cardiovascular exercise in conjunction with a strengthening program that targets the body’s major muscle groups is preferred. The intensity of the exercise should always stay in the low to moderate range and should be dictated by the patient’s healthcare provider.”
— Dr. Samantha Edwards
