A supervised home-based exercise program to improve functional performance in women with breast cancer (home-pac): a randomized controlled trial

Background: Endocrine therapy's effects may hinder the functional performance and quality of life of women with breast cancer. Physical activity can counteract these effects, but this population does not regularly adopt it. This study aimed to test the impact of a 12-week home-based exercise intervention with a supervised component on the functional performance, quality of life, and physical activity of women with breast cancer undergoing endocrine therapy. Methods: Twenty-one women were initially randomized. Three participants were missing at random before the intervention started, leaving 18 with breast cancer stage I to III diagnosis, aged 18 to 75 years, receiving endocrine therapy, and reporting low to moderate activity levels. The study comprised a weekly online exercise session and, an exercise booklet intervention, and control group. Functional performance, quality of life, and physical activity were assessed. ANOVAs with repeated measures and Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons were conducted. Results: High adherence to program was observed (80%). Significant group-by-time interactions, favoring the intervention group, were found for functional performance - sit-to-stand (F = 19.64; P <.001; Eta2 =.55), arm curl (F = 13.01; P =.002; Eta2 =.45), and timed-up-go (F = 12.22; P =.003; Eta2 =.43); quality of life - insomnia (F = 6.05; P = 0.026; Eta2 =.27) and global health status (F = 6.81; P =.020; Eta2 =.31); and total physical activity (F = 5.95; P =.027; Eta2 =.27). Conclusion: The findings suggest that home-based exercise programs might be feasible and improve strength and overall mobility. These programs may contribute to increasing physical activity and quality of life of women with breast cancer. Further studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings.