Effects of Activity Tracker-Based Counselling and Live-Web Exercise on Breast Cancer Survivors during Italy COVID-19 Lockdown

Background: To prevent and fight the increase of daily sedentary time and to promote and stimulate the positive effects of physical activity and exercise on health, both traditional interventions and new strategies are important for breast cancer survivors (BCS). The research goal was to compare the effects of weekly personal feedback, based on objectively measured physical activity, on the trends of both daily sedentary time and on the physical activity of BCS (E− group) with those of an intervention also including online supervised physical exercise sessions (E+ group), during the Italy COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: The Italian COVID-19 emergency allowed the possibility to also observe the effects of social and personal limitations. A total of 51 BCS were studied over an 18-week period and had an objective registration of day-to-day sedentary time, physical activity, and sleep. Both subsamples received weekly or fortnight personal feedback. Data were analysed considering four key periods, according to the COVID-19 emergency steps. Results: Statistical analysis showed an additive effect for sedentary time and a multiplicative effect both for light-to vigorous and light-intensity physical activities. The E− group had a high overall sedentary time and a different trend of light-to vigorous and light-intensity physical activities, with a reduction from the 1st to the 2nd periods (national and personal restrictions), showing a significant rise just at the end of the national restrictions. Conclusions: The use of an activity tracker and its accompanying app, with the reception of weekly tailored advice and supervised online physical exercise sessions, can elicit proper physical activity recomposition in BCS in the COVID-19 era.

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Physical activity and sedentary time: associations with fatigue, pain, and depressive symptoms over 4 years post-treatment among breast cancer survivors

Supportive Care in Cancer ◽

10.1007/s00520-021-06469-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Isabelle Doré ◽

Audrey Plante ◽

Serena S. Peck ◽

Nathalie Bedrossian ◽

Catherine M. Sabiston

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Sedentary Time ◽

Post Treatment

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Patterns of Fitbit Use and Activity Levels Among African American Breast Cancer Survivors During an eHealth Weight Loss Randomized Controlled Trial

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/08901171211036700 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089011712110367

Author(s):

Jeanne M. Ferrante ◽

Aaron Lulla ◽

Julie D. Williamson ◽

Katie A. Devine ◽

Pamela Ohman-Strickland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Weight Loss ◽

African American ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Activity Tracker ◽

Steps Per Day ◽

Household Members

Purpose: This study examined adherence with a physical activity tracker and patterns of activity among different subgroups of African American/Black breast cancer survivors (AABCS). Design: Secondary analysis of weight loss trial that used an activity tracker (FitBit) with or without a commercial eHealth program (SparkPeople) over 12 months. Setting and Subjects: AABCS (N = 44) in New Jersey. Measures and Analysis: Adherence with tracker use, steps per day, and active minutes per week were compared by demographic and clinical characteristics using nonparametric statistics. Results: Median adherence was over 6 days per week throughout the 12-months. Adherence was significantly correlated with steps and active minutes (p < 0.015). Groups with lower adherence included: those with 5 or more conditions (p = 0.039), had higher number of household members (p = 0.008), and younger than 60 years (p = 0.044). Median number of steps per day remained consistently around 7000 throughout 12 months. Factors associated with lower activity included: age > 60; retirement; higher number of household members, comorbidity, or baseline BMI; and those in the SparkPeople + Fitbit group. Self-monitoring, goal setting, and self-efficacy were significantly correlated with activity levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Use of a physical activity tracker may help increase activity levels in AABCS. Certain subgroups, e.g. those older than age 60 years, retired, with BMI over 40, higher number of comorbidities or more household members, may require additional interventions.

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Using Isotemporal Analyses to Examine the Relationships Between Daytime Activities and Cancer Recurrence Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Survivors

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2019-0037 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 217-224

Author(s):

Kelsie M. Full ◽

Eileen Johnson ◽

Michelle Takemoto ◽

Sheri J. Hartman ◽

Jacqueline Kerr ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Light Intensity ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Cancer Recurrence ◽

Model Assessment ◽

Homeostatic Model Assessment ◽

Intensity Physical Activity ◽

Homeostatic Model

Background: For breast cancer survivors, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with improved survival. Less is known about the interrelationships of daytime activities (sedentary behavior [SB], light-intensity physical activity, and MVPA) and associations with survivors’ health outcomes. This study will use isotemporal substitution to explore reallocations of time spent in daytime activities and associations with cancer recurrence biomarkers. Methods: Breast cancer survivors (N = 333; mean age 63 y) wore accelerometers and provided fasting blood samples. Linear regression models estimated the associations between daytime activities and cancer recurrence biomarkers. Isotemporal substitution models estimated cross-sectional associations with biomarkers when time was reallocated from of one activity to another. Models were adjusted for wear time, demographics, lifestyle factors, and medical conditions. Results: MVPA was significantly associated with lower insulin, C-reactive protein, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and glucose, and higher sex hormone-binding globulin (all P < .05). Light-intensity physical activity and SB were associated with insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (both P < .05). Reallocating 18 minutes of SB to MVPA resulted in significant beneficial associations with insulin (−9.3%), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (−10.8%), glucose (−1.7%), and sex hormone-binding globulin (7.7%). There were no significant associations when 79 minutes of SB were shifted to light-intensity physical activity. Conclusions: Results illuminate the possible benefits for breast cancer survivors of replacing time spent in SB with MVPA.

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