Aerobic exercise intensity in breast cancer patients: a preliminary investigation.

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.

Influence of adapted sport on quality of life: perceptions of athletes with cerebral palsy.

PURPOSE: This study sought to examine the effect of adaptive sports participation on athletic identity and influence on quality of life (QOL) for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) participating in the CP World Games. METHOD: Surveys were conducted with 73 international athletes competing in the 2005 CP World Championships. The survey included descriptive questions about sport involvement and socio-demographics, the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale, and the Influence on Quality of Life Scale. RESULTS: A significant relationship was found between influence on QOL and athletic identity (r = 0.505; p < 0.001). There was a moderate negative correlation between influence of adaptive sport on QOL and severity of disability (r = -0.264, p < 0.05). The majority of the sample either agreed or strongly agreed that adaptive sport positively influenced their overall health (84.9%) quality of life (80.8%), quality of family life (53.4%), and quality of social life (56.1%). Athletic identity (beta = 0.54) was the strongest predictor of influence on QOL with severity of disability (beta = -0.29) also a significant contributor. These athletes also had significantly higher mean AIMS scores when compared to collegiate non-athletes, collegiate recreational athletes, and recreational athletes with disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that participation in adapted sport is related to QOL and athletic identity for individuals with CP. To foster these benefits advocates for persons with disabilities should work toward increasing opportunities to compete in sports.