Muscle contractile properties of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: Assessment of feasibility and exercise effects.

Background: This pilot trial explores the feasibility of measuring muscle contractile properties in patients with cancer, effects of exercise during chemotherapy on muscle contractile properties and the association between changes in contractile muscle properties and perceived fatigue.

Method: Patients who received (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy for breast or colon cancer were randomized to a 9-12 week exercise intervention or a waitlist-control group. At baseline and follow-up, we measured knee extensor strength using maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), contractile muscle properties of the quadriceps muscle using electrical stimulation, and perceived fatigue using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory.