Exercise parameters in the management of breast cancer: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Aim. Previous systematic reviews have examined the efficacy of exercise in improving the quality of life for patients with, and survivors of, breast cancer. This review sets out to determine the parameters of exercise programmes used in randomized controlled trials. Methods. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted. Only trials that reported significant improvement on the quality of life outcome were included. Data relating to the parameters of exercise (mode, duration, frequency and intensity and delivery method) were analyzed. Results. Nine randomized controlled trials were included in this review. Overall quality of the trials was average. Aerobic exercise was featured in eight of the nine trials and was used in combination with resistance training in four trials. All the trials were gym‐based, were under the supervision of a physiotherapist and included a warm‐up and cool‐down phase. Conclusions. This review concludes that aerobic exercise performed with or without weight training is a common feature of exercise programmes that report significant quality of life–related outcomes. The most commonly reported exercise parameters were three sessions per week, at moderate intensity being equivalent to 50% to 80% of the maximum heart rate for greater than 30 minutes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.