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Aerobic Exercise Intensity in Breast Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Investigation

Department of Exercise and Sport Science, , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, evans139{at}email.unc.edu

Claudio L. Battaglini, PhD

Department of Exercise and Sport Science, , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Diane G. Groff, EdD

Department of Exercise and Sport Science, , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina

A.C. Hackney, PhD, DSc

Department of Exercise and Sport Science, , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Purpose: This study compared the heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood lactate (BL) responses to aerobic exercise between posttreated breast cancer patients and apparently healthy, age-matched controls. Methods: Seven patients and 7 control subjects underwent a submaximal treadmill test for the estimation of Vo_2max. Exercise intensities of 40%, 60%, and 70% of Vo_2max were calculated from the treadmill test and randomly examined between groups during three 9-minute exercise bouts on 3 different days. Independent samples t tests were used to examine the HR, RPE, and BL responses at each intensity between groups. Results: No significant differences were observed between the control and patient groups for HR, RPE, and BL at 40% (101 ± 9 vs 101 ± 11 bpm, P = .979; 8 ± 1 vs 9 ± 3, P = .237; and 1.11 ± 0.73 vs 1.26 ± 0.64 mmol/L, P = .188, respectively) and 60% (127 ± 17 vs 117 ± 13 bpm, P = .523; 12 ± 2 vs 11 ± 3, P = .267, and 3.83 ± 2.48 vs 2.23 ± 1.65 mmol/L, P = .237, respectively) of Vo_2max . At 70% of Vo_2max, no significant differences were found for HR (151 ± 27 vs 135 ± 13 bpm, P = .704) and RPE (14 ± 1 vs 13 ± 3, P = .181), but lower BL responses were observed in the patient group (7.70 ± 1.62 vs 3.29 ± 1.08 mmol/L, P < .0005). Conclusions: The results suggest similar HR, RPE, and BL responses between patients and control subjects at 40%, 60%, and 70% of Vo_2max , except for BL at 70% of Vo_2max. The lower BL response in the patient group at 70% of Vo_2max was somewhat unexpected. Further research is needed to confirm or refute the results of this study to allow for a clearer understanding of the physiological responses of breast cancer patients to aerobic exercise at moderate or higher intensities so that safer aerobic exercise prescriptions can be developed for this population.

Key Words: breast cancer • heart rate • rate of perceived exertion • blood lactate • Vo2max

Integrative Cancer Therapies, Vol. 8, No. 2, 139-147 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1534735409335506


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