Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 42(7):1409-1426, JULY 2010
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181e0c112
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PMID: 20559064
Issn Print: 0195-9131
Publication Date: July 2010
American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable on Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors
Kathryn Schmitz;Kerry Courneya;Charles Matthews;Wendy Demark-Wahnefried;DANIEL GALVÃO;Bernardine Pinto;Melinda IRWIN;KATHLEEN WOLIN;ROANNE SEGAL;ALEJANDRO LUCIA;CAROLE SCHNEIDER;VIVIAN VON GRUENIGEN;ANNA SCHWARTZ;
Abstract
Kathryn H. Schmitz, PhD, MPH, FACSMKerry S. Courneya, PhDCharles Matthews, PhD, FACSMWendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhDDaniel A. Galvão, PhDBernardine M. Pinto, PhDMelinda L. Irwin, PhD, FACSMKathleen Y. Wolin, ScD, FACSMRoanne J. Segal, MD, FRCPAlejandro Lucia, MD, PhDCarole M. Schneider, PhD, FACSMVivian E. von Gruenigen, MDAnna L. Schwartz, PhD, FAANEarly detection and improved treatments for cancer have resulted in roughly 12 million survivors alive in the United States today. This growing population faces unique challenges from their disease and treatments, including risk for recurrent cancer, other chronic diseases, and persistent adverse effects on physical functioning and quality of life. Historically, clinicians advised cancer patients to rest and to avoid activity; however, emerging research on exercise has challenged this recommendation. To this end, a roundtable was convened by American College of Sports Medicine to distill the literature on the safety and efficacy of exercise training during and after adjuvant cancer therapy and to provide guidelines. The roundtable concluded that exercise training is safe during and after cancer treatments and results in improvements in physical functioning, quality of life, and cancer-related fatigue in several cancer survivor groups. Implications for disease outcomes and survival are still unknown. Nevertheless, the benefits to physical functioning and quality of life are sufficient for the recommendation that cancer survivors follow the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, with specific exercise programming adaptations based on disease and treatment-related adverse effects. The advice to "avoid inactivity," even in cancer patients with existing disease or undergoing difficult treatments, is likely helpful.
