Table 1.
Intervention | |
---|---|
Brief name | Cancer rehabilitation |
Why | Exercise during cancer treatment may mitigate side effects and improve treatment efficacy |
What: materials |
• Participants were offered access the hospital gymnasium: - Free weights - Resistance exercise bands - Pin-loaded machines (lateral pull down, leg press, chest press) - Aerobic exercise equipment (exercise bike × 2, treadmill × 1, stairs) - Balance equipment • Participants received a written, individualised home exercise program • Participants were offered a referral to a community exercise program |
What procedures | |
Provider | • Two physiotherapists with oncology experience (5.5 years combined) provided by the hospital |
How | • Face to face sessions (centre-based) or unsupervised sessions (home-based) |
Where | • Hospital gymnasium or home |
When/how much Type |
Aerobic: continuous training prescribed based on 6-min walk test results. Included treadmill, walking, stationary cycle, arm ergometer, exercise pedals Resistance: Prescription based on 10 repetition maximum testing. Pin-loaded machines (leg press, chest press, lat pull down), exercise bands, free weights, body weight exercise (e.g. pushups, stepups, squats, sit to stand) |
Intensity |
Aerobic: Moderate (BORG 3–4) Resistance: 2–3 sets 10–12 RM Progression: Resistance training based on attainment of 2–3 sets of 12, RPE 3–4 Aerobic training aim to work 2–3 for first 2 weeks of the program, working up to 4 on BORG scale by week 8 Hospital-based group opted for 1 or 2 × weekly supervised training |
Frequency |
2 × weekly strength training (all) 3X weekly aerobic training (all) |
Session time |
Hospital: 60 min (5-min warm-up and cool-down, approx 20 min aerobic, 20 min resistance) Home: 30 min aerobic, resistance not time based |
Overall duration | 8 weeks |
Tailoring | • Individualised exercise program based on initial consultation and goals |
Trial fidelity |
• Staff with a background in oncology physiotherapy who had prior formal training were employed by the hospital to provide the intervention. Staff also attended three, 1-h education sessions on exercise and cancer • Exercise log-books were completed for centre-based sessions • Records of the number and duration of completed sessions • Clinical supervision as per standard hospital policy |