TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of weight training on skeletal health of breast cancer survivors with or at risk for breast cancer-related lymphedema
AU - Winters-Stone, Kerri M.
AU - Laudermilk, Monica
AU - Woo, Kaitlin
AU - Brown, Justin C.
AU - Schmitz, Kathryn H.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments The work was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute (R01-CA106851, to Dr. Schmitz) and the National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR024134, to the University of Pennsylvania). BSN Medical provided custom-fitted compression garments, and the fitness centers where the weight training sessions took place (YMCA of Philadelphia and Vicinity, Sisters in Shape, and the Family YMCA of Burlington County, NJ) provided discounted membership fees for study participants.
PY - 2014/6
Y1 - 2014/6
N2 - Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether the Physical Activity and Lymphedema (PAL) trial weight training program for breast cancer survivors at risk of or with breast cancer-related lymphedema provided skeletal benefits. Methods: Of the 295 participants in the randomized controlled PAL trial, 258 (weight training; N = 128; control, N = 130) had complete measures of bone mineral density (BMD (in grams per square centimeter)) of the proximal femur and lumbar spine and were also categorized by T scores. Women in the weight training group performed slowly progressive weight training 2 days/week for 12 months compared to women in the control group who maintained their usual physical activities. Results: There were no significant differences in the rate of BMD change at any skeletal site between weight training and control groups, regardless of menopausal status. Distribution of bone health categories was not significantly different between groups at baseline, but became different at 12 months (p < 0.03) among postmenopausal women due to an increase in the percentage of controls who became osteopenic (35 to 44 %) compared to stable bone health in weight lifters. Conclusions: The PAL weight training program that increased muscle strength without exacerbating or causing lymphedema among breast cancer survivors was not as efficacious at improving skeletal health. The skeletal loads produced from the PAL program may be insufficient to notably shift BMD, but may have a subtle osteogenic effect. Implications for cancer survivors: The safety and efficacy of rigorous weight training programs for improving skeletal health in women at risk for or with breast cancer-related lymphedema remain to be determined.
AB - Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether the Physical Activity and Lymphedema (PAL) trial weight training program for breast cancer survivors at risk of or with breast cancer-related lymphedema provided skeletal benefits. Methods: Of the 295 participants in the randomized controlled PAL trial, 258 (weight training; N = 128; control, N = 130) had complete measures of bone mineral density (BMD (in grams per square centimeter)) of the proximal femur and lumbar spine and were also categorized by T scores. Women in the weight training group performed slowly progressive weight training 2 days/week for 12 months compared to women in the control group who maintained their usual physical activities. Results: There were no significant differences in the rate of BMD change at any skeletal site between weight training and control groups, regardless of menopausal status. Distribution of bone health categories was not significantly different between groups at baseline, but became different at 12 months (p < 0.03) among postmenopausal women due to an increase in the percentage of controls who became osteopenic (35 to 44 %) compared to stable bone health in weight lifters. Conclusions: The PAL weight training program that increased muscle strength without exacerbating or causing lymphedema among breast cancer survivors was not as efficacious at improving skeletal health. The skeletal loads produced from the PAL program may be insufficient to notably shift BMD, but may have a subtle osteogenic effect. Implications for cancer survivors: The safety and efficacy of rigorous weight training programs for improving skeletal health in women at risk for or with breast cancer-related lymphedema remain to be determined.
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U2 - 10.1007/s11764-013-0337-z
DO - 10.1007/s11764-013-0337-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 24390808
AN - SCOPUS:84900328781
SN - 1932-2259
VL - 8
SP - 260
EP - 268
JO - Journal of Cancer Survivorship
JF - Journal of Cancer Survivorship
IS - 2
ER -