Virtual Exercise on Elderly Breast Cancer Survivors

Summary

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common neoplasia. Frequent for women and half of the new cases occur in people over 65 years of age. The treatment of BC generates adverse effects that deteriorate the physical functionality, muscle strength and quality of life of the survivors. This is more noticeable in elderly BC survivors. Physical exercise improves some adverse effects of BC, but few studies have focused on physical functionality, especially in older people. The elderly population reports the lowest adherence and lower level of physical activity. It is relevant to explore innovative and specific proposals for physical exercise for elderly survivors of BC. One solution may be virtual reality game-based exercise, which has been shown in healthy older people to significantly improve physical functionality and adherence compared to traditional physical exercise. The objective of our study is to estimate the feasibility and effect of a virtual reality-based exercise program on the functionality, muscle strength, and quality of life of older BC survivors, compared to a group undergoing traditional physical exercise.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* Women between 60 and 80 years old.
* Diagnosis of primary breast carcinoma.
* Treated with at least two of the following treatments: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy.
* Minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 10 years after finishing treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy).
* Being able to walk at least 4 meters independently or with a cane as assistive technology

Exclusion Criteria:

* Stage IV breast cancer.
* Previous cancer treatment for any type of cancer other than breast cancer (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or endocrine therapy).
* Cognitive impairment measured by the abbreviated Mini-Mental State Examination with a score \< 13 points.
* Medical contraindication to perform physical exercise.
* Self-reported of physical activity equivalent to the recent American College of Sports Medicine Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Patients and Survivors (150 min/week of moderate aerobic exercise and strength exercise twice a week).
* Body mass index \< 18.5 kg/m2 or \> 40 kg/m2.

Conditions2

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