Gao publishes on exercise intervention for breast cancer patients

Dr. Zan Gao

Zan Gao, PhD, kinesiology associate professor and director of the Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory (PAEL), published an article, “A Longitudinal Study of a Multicomponent Exercise Intervention with Remote Guidance among Breast Cancer Patients,” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

The study examined the effectiveness of a 12-week multicomponent exercise with remote guidance intervention on health-related outcomes after one year among breast cancer patients. A total of 60 patients with breast cancer who completed chemotherapy/postoperative radiotherapy within the previous four months to two years were randomly assigned to either the multicomponent exercise with remote guidance group or usual care.

Eligible participants were approached to assess cancer-related quality of life, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and physical activity barriers after one year. The study found that the multicomponent exercise group observed significant differences from the usual care group in quality of life, muscle strength, cardiopulmonary endurance, and physical activity participation. These results suggest that the phsyical acitivity intervention produces long-term health benefits for breast cancer patients.