Benefits of Resistance Training in Older Cancer Survivors

According to research presented at the May 2008 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, older cancer survivors showed greater strength and ability in performing daily tasks after resistance training. One of few studies to involve cancer patients beyond their mid-50s, researchers tested ways to fight the loss of function that can limit independence, particularly those who have undergone cancer therapies.

Catherine Jankowski, Ph.D., led the team that studied eight men and women aged 65 or older who completed a circuit of exercise machines three days weekly for four months. A control group of nine other older adults continued their daily routines without added exercise. All wore step counters to monitor their walking activity and none were regular exercisers before the study.

Following training, the exercise group measured significantly higher in physical functioning performance, showing a greater ability to perform daily tasks such as dressing, carrying groceries, walking up stairs or vacuuming.

Dr. Jankowski plans to repeat the basic design of this study on larger numbers of subjects over a longer period of time. In future studies, cancer survivors would participate sooner after completing treatments, whereas those in the most current study averaged seven years post-diagnosis. A larger sample would yield meaningful data on additional factors such as depression which can correlate to ill health and aging and for which exercise has been shown to have beneficial effects.

ACSM recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate to intense daily physical activity for older adults, including aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activity—both of which are essential for healthy aging. The benefits associated with regular exercise and physical activity contribute to a more healthy, independent lifestyle, improving functional capacity and quality of life by reducing risk of chronic disease, premature mortality, and overall limitations in ability to perform activities of daily life.

Source: www.acsm.org