Exercise Preserves Physical Function in Prostate Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases.

Daniel A Galvão, Dennis R Taaffe, Nigel Spry, Prue Cormie, David Joseph, Suzanne K Chambers, Raphael Chee, Carolyn J Peddle-McIntyre, Nicolas H Hart, Freerk T Baumann, James Denham, Michael Baker, Robert U Newton

Journal: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2018;50(3):393-399

PMID: 29036016

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Plain Language Summary

Existing research indicates cancer patients with bone metastases should not participate in exercise due to potential risks to the skeletal system. However, current oncology guidelines suggest that all cancer patients should avoid inactivity, including those with bone metastases. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of exercise among 57 prostate cancer patients with bone metastases. Participants were randomised to either participate in exercise or receive usual care for three months. Exercise consisted of supervised aerobic activity, resistance training and stretching three days a week. Overall health status and physical function was measured by self-reported questionnaire. This study found self-reported physical functioning and lower muscle strength was improved significantly in the exercise group. There were no difference in bone pain between groups, and no adverse events occurred. Based on these results, the authors conclude exercise is safe and can help improve physical functioning among prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis.

Abstract

PURPOSE

The presence of bone metastases has excluded participation of cancer patients in exercise interventions and is a relative contraindication to supervised exercise in the community setting because of concerns of fragility fracture. We examined the efficacy and safety of a modular multimodal exercise program in prostate cancer patients with bone metastases.

METHODS

Between 2012 and 2015, 57 prostate cancer patients (70.0 ± 8.4 yr; body mass index, 28.7 ± 4.0 kg·m) with bone metastases (pelvis, 75.4%; femur, 40.4%; rib/thoracic spine, 66.7%; lumbar spine, 43.9%; humerus, 24.6%; other sites, 70.2%) were randomized to multimodal supervised aerobic, resistance, and flexibility exercises undertaken thrice weekly (EX; n = 28) or usual care (CON; n = 29) for 3 months. Physical function subscale of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 was the primary end point as an indicator of patient-rated physical functioning. Secondary end points included objective measures of physical function, lower body muscle strength, body composition, and fatigue. Safety was assessed by recording the incidence and severity of any adverse events, skeletal complications, and bone pain throughout the intervention.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between groups for self-reported physical functioning (3.2 points; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-6.0 points; P = 0.028) and lower body muscle strength (6.6 kg; 95% confidence interval, 0.6-12.7; P = 0.033) at 3 months favoring EX. However, there was no difference between groups for lean mass (P = 0.584), fat mass (P = 0.598), or fatigue (P = 0.964). There were no exercise-related adverse events or skeletal fractures and no differences in bone pain between EX and CON (P = 0.507).

CONCLUSIONS

Multimodal modular exercise in prostate cancer patients with bone metastases led to self-reported improvements in physical function and objectively measured lower body muscle strength with no skeletal complications or increased bone pain.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ACTRN12611001158954.

Address: Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, AUSTRALIA.

DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001454