Comparison of Effect of Aerobic Training Versus Resistance Training on Cancer-Related Fatigue and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Background: Cancer-related fatigue is the most common side effect of cancer treatment which negatively impacts the Quality Of Life in breast cancer survivors. Hence the main purpose of this study was to compare the effects of aerobic versus resistance training on fatigue level and QOL in breast cancer survivors. Methods: sixty patients were assigned in two groups. They were screened for cancer-related fatigue and quality of life. The aerobic exercise program included supervised walking with low to moderate intensity. Resistance training group received body weight exercises. Outcome measures such as FACT-B, FACIT Fatigue, RPE, and VO2max (using Queen’s college step test) were taken at baseline and after 6 ? weeks of the treatment protocol. Student t-tests (two-tailed, paired & unpaired) were used to find the significance of study parameters on the continuous scale within and between two groups. Results: The result of this study showed that there was a significant reduction in cancer-related fatigue FACIT-Fatigue score (p<0.001), RPE (p<0.001), VO2max (p<0.001) and improvement in the quality of life FACT-B score (p<0.001) in both the training groups. However resistance training group has a better improvement in the score. Conclusion: Resistance training showed more significant improvement in cancer-related fatigue and quality of life as compared to aerobic training.