Feasibility and effects of a combined adjuvant high-intensity interval/strength training in breast cancer patients: a single-center pilot study

Purpose: To evaluate feasibility of an exercise intervention consisting of high-intensity interval endurance and strength training in breast cancer patients.Methods: Twenty-six women with nonmetastatic breast cancer were consecutively assigned to the exercise intervention- (n= 15, mean age 51.9 ± 9.8 years) and the control group (n = 11, mean age 56.9 ± 7.0 years). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing that included lactate sampling, one-repetition maximum tests and a HADS-D questionnaire were used to monitor patients both before and after a supervised six weeks period of either combined high-intensity interval endurance and strength training (intervention group, twice a week) or leisure training (control group).Results: Contrarily to the control group, endurance (mean change of VO2, peak 12.0 ± 13.0%) and strength performance (mean change of cumulative load 25.9 ± 11.2%) and quality of life increased in the intervention group. No training-related adverse events were observed.Conclusions: Our guided exercise intervention could be used effectively for initiation and improvement of performance capacity and quality of life in breast cancer patients in a relatively short time. This might be especially attractive during medical treatment. Long-term effects have to be evaluated in randomized controlled studies also with a longer follow-up.Implications for RehabilitationHigh-intensity interval training allows improvement of aerobic capacity within a comparable short time.Standard leisure training in breast cancer patients is rather suitable for the maintenance of performance capacity and quality of life.Guided high-intensity interval training combined with strength training can be used effectively for the improvement of endurance and strength capacity and also quality of life.After exclusion of contraindications, guided adjuvant high-intensity interval training combined with strength training can be safely used in breast cancer patients