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. 2021 May 8;29(11):6701–6711. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06261-2

Table 1.

Intervention description using the template for description and replication checklist (TIDier)

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