Table 1.
Resistance exercise in breast cancer patients − RCTs
| First author [ref.], year | Supervised vs. unsupervised; machines vs. free weights | Duration | Intensity | Outcome vs. control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ Acute treatment ↑ Ammitzbøll [13], 2019 | 1st 20 weeks, supervised group training + unsupervised free weights and resistance bands 2nd 30 weeks unsupervised |
50 weeks, 3×/week | Whole body, progressive, 10–20 reps, 3 sets | ↑ Muscle strength ↔ BCRL volume ↔ BCRL symptoms |
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| Cešeiko [15], 2019 | Supervised, leg-press machine | 12 weeks, 2×/week for 20 min |
Leg-press, progressive, 4 reps, 4 sets at 85–90% h1RM | ↑ Muscle strength → BMI ↑ QoL (EORTC-QLQ C30, BR23) |
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| Kilbreath [14], 2012 | Supervised + unsupervised Free weights, resistance bands | 8 weeks, 1×/week + home program, 24-week follow-up |
Shoulder muscles, exercises unspecified progressive, 8–15 reps | ↑ Muscle strength ↔ BCRL ↑ BCRL symptoms |
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| Mijwel [19], 2018 | RE + HIIT: supervised, machines AE + HIIT: supervised | RE/AE: 16 weeks during chemotherapy, 2×/week |
RE: 8–12 reps, 2–3 sets 80% h1RM 3 × 3 min HIIT AE: 20 min steady state, 13–15 BORG Scale 3 × 3 min HIIT |
RE+HIIT vs. AE+HIIT: ↑ Muscle strength ↔ BMI ↑ Pressure-pain threshold |
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| Schmidt [21], 2015 | RE: group training, supervised RELX: group training, supervised | 12 weeks, 2×/week during chemotherapy | Whole body, progressive, 3 sets/12 rep max Progressive muscle relaxation |
RE vs. RELX ↑ CRF ↔ QoL |
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| Schmidt [18], 2015 | Supervised, machines | 12 weeks, 2×/week during chemotherapy | Whole body, progressive, 20 reps, 1 set at 50% h1RM | ↑ Muscle strength ↔ CRF ↑ QoL |
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| Steindorf [20], 2014/Wiskemann [17], 2017 | RE: machines unsupervised RELX: group training, supervised | 12 weeks, 2×/week | RE: whole body, progressive, 3 sets/12 rep max RELX: PMR | RE vs. RELX ↑ Muscle strength ↔ CRF |
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| ↓ Survivors ↓ Schmitz [28], 2010/Brown [27], 2012 |
1st 3 months supervised; 2nd 9 months unsupervised Machines and free weights |
1 year, 2×/week for 90 min |
Whole body, progressive, 10 reps, 3 sets | ↑ Muscle strength ↑ BCRL onset ↔ BMI ↔ Lean mass |
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| Winters-Stone [35], 2014 | As above | As above | As above | ↔ BMD |
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| Hagstrom [24], 2019 | Supervised; 1st 8 weeks machines, 2nd 8 weeks free weights | 16 weeks, 3×/week for 60 min |
Whole body, progressive, 8–10 reps, 3 sets | ↑ Muscle strength |
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| Hagstrom [23], 2016/Hagstrom [41], 2016 | As above | As above | As above | ↑ Muscle strength ↔ BMI ↑ QoL (FACT-G) ↑ Fatigue (FACIT) |
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| Dos Santos [26], 2019 | Supervised, Machines and free weights |
8 weeks, 1×/week | Whole body, progressive, 8–12 reps, 3 sets | ↑ Muscle strength ↔ BMI ↔ Lean mass |
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| Jeffs [31], 2013 |
Unsupervised Gravity resistive exercises | 6 months, 7×/week for 10–15 min |
Upper body, no intensities reported | ↔ BCRL volume ↔ QoL (LYMQOL) ↔ BMI |
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| Waltman [36], 2010 | Unsupervised, 1st 9 months: free weights 2nd 15 months: machines |
24 months, 2×/week | Whole body, progressive 8–12 reps, 2 sets | ↔ BMD |
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| Santagnello [37], 2020 | Supervised, machines | 12 weeks, 3×/week | Lower body, progressive, 8–12 reps, 3 sets | ↑ Muscle strength ↑ Lean mass ↑ Fatigue |
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| Buchan [34], 2016 | RE: 1/3 supervised and 2/3 unsupervised, machines and free weights AE: 1/3 supervised and 2/3 unsupervised |
RE/AE: 12 weeks + 12-week follow-up, 3×/week for 50 min | RE: Whole body, progressive, 8–12 reps, 2 sets AE: intensities according a MET-level of 5 | RE vs. AE: ↑ Muscle strength ↔ BCRL ↔ Lean mass ↔ QoL (FACT-B) |
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| Musanti [25], 2012 | Unsupervised RE: free weights (resistance bands) AE: walking REAE: combination of both |
12 weeks, RE: 3×/week AE: 3×/week for 15–30 min REAE: RE 2×/week + AE 4–5×/week |
RE: whole body, progressive, 10–12 reps, 1 set AE: 40–65% (up to 85%) of HRmax Combination of both, intensities as above |
RE and REAE vs. AE and controls: f Muscle strength |
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| Cormie [29], 2013 | Supervised; machines and free weights RE intense RE moderate | 12 weeks 2×/week for 60 min |
Whole body, progressive, RE intense: 6–10 reps with 75–85% of 1RM, 1–4 sets RE moderate: 15–20 reps with 55–65% of 1RM, 1–4 sets |
RE HIGH and MOD vs. controls: ↔ BCRL volume ↔ BCRL symptoms ↑ Muscle strength |
Overview of strength exercise RCT studies in acute breast cancer therapy and in breast cancer survivors over the last 10 years. AE, aerobic exercise; BCRL, breast cancer-related lymphedema; BMD, bone mineral density; BMI, body mass index; CRF, cancer-related fatigue; HIIT, high-intensity interval training; HRmax, maximum heart rate; MET, metabolic equivalent of task; PMR, progressive muscle relaxation; RE, resistance exercise; REAE, resistance + aerobic exercise; RELX, relaxation training; reps, repetitions; QoL, quality of life.