Effects of exercise mode and intensity on patient-reported outcomes in cancer survivors: a four-arm intervention trial.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different exercise modes (aerobic, resistance) and intensity prescriptions (standard, polarized, undulating) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in cancer survivors.

Methods: 107 breast or prostate cancer survivors (52% females, age 58 ± 10 years, 6-52 weeks after primary therapy) performed one out of four training programs, two sessions/week, over 12 weeks: work rate-matched vigorous intensity aerobic training (AT, n = 28) and polarized intensity aerobic training (AT, n = 26) as well as volume-matched moderate intensity resistance training (RT, n = 26) and daily undulating intensity resistance training (RT, n = 27). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL, EORTC-QLQ-C30) and cancer-related fatigue (CRF, MFI-20) were assessed at baseline, at the end of intervention and after a 12-week follow-up without further prescribed exercise.