Effects of Resistance Exercise on Quality of Life, Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Quality and Inflammatory Parameters in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Active Treatment: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this pilot randomized clinical trial was to determine the effect of adding a supervised resistance exercise programme to a home-based physical activity plan on health-related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing active treatment. The secondary objectives were to evaluate its effects on anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and inflammatory parameters. METHODS: This is a pilot randomized clinical trial with parallel groups. Patients with CRC were recruited through the Oncology Department at the Salamanca University Health Care Complex in Spain. They were randomly allocated to receive either a home-based physical activity plus a supervised resistance training programme, or the home-based physical activity plan only. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life measures and the secondary outcomes included anxiety, depression and sleep quality evaluations. The supervised training lasted 8 weeks for each patient. However, no significant effect was found with regard to other health-related quality of life, anxiety, depression or sleep variables. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue and constipation in patients with CRC receiving chemo- and/or immunotherapy may benefit from the introduction of supervised resistance exercise training programmes.