Women with cancer are significantly more likely to fall than other women and this puts them at higher risk of fall-related fractures, other injuries and disability. Our understanding of falls in women with cancer is relatively new. Currently, there are no evidence-based fall prevention strategies that specifically target female cancer survivors. The purpose of the proposed study is to compare the efficacy of two very distinct types of exercise, tai chi versus strength training, to prevent falls in women who have completed treatment for cancer. We propose a three-group, single-blind, parallel design, randomized controlled trial in women, aged 50-75 years old, who have completed chemotherapy for cancer comparing 1) tai chi to 2) strength training against 3) a placebo control group of seated stretching exercise. Women will participate in supervised study programs three times per week for six months and will be followed for an additional six months after formal training stops.
The specific aims of this study are to: 1) Determine and compare the efficacy of both tai chi training and strength training to reduce falls in older female cancer survivors, 2) Determine the mechanism(s) by which tai chi and strength training each reduces falls and, 3) Determine whether or not the benefits of each intervention last after structured training stops. The proposed study is innovative in its approach because it is the very first attempt at a direct comparison of two prominent exercise modalities (e.g., tai chi and strength training), each with distinct training properties, to reduce falls in a population of cancer survivors. This innovation will lead to a better understanding of potential mechanisms that underlie improvements in balance and strength and subsequently, reduced falls in women with cancer. This innovation may also impact clinical practice in terms of choosing most effective rehabilitative methods for treating cancer patients with an elevated risk of falling. The long-term goal of the proposed research is to develop effective and practical interventions that target the specific health needs of cancer survivors. This application addresses the National Cancer Institute's strategic goals to invest in intervention research on long-term health in cancer survivors and the Institute of Medicine recommendations to broaden cancer care to prevent dysfunction and disability in the growing population of cancer survivors. This study is relevant to public health because there are over 6 million women who have survived cancer but who are at great risk of falling. Currently, evidence-based therapeutic treatment options specific to fall prevention in women with cancer are not available in the cancer rehabilitation field. The proposed study, therefore, addresses both an important public health problem and a critical barrier in clinical practice. If the aims are successfully achieved, findings from this study will not only generate new knowledge about the effectiveness of two exercise-based treatment options but will also advance clinical rehabilitative practice. These factors, combined with the fact that the two exercise regimens are easily accessible and implementable in practice, increase the potential impact of this research on the quality of life in women with cancer.

Public Health Relevance

This study is relevant to public health because over 6 million women have survived cancer, but now have an increased risk of falls and fractures. The knowledge gained from this study could provide evidence-based therapeutic treatment options for prevention of falls in clinical practice and cancer rehabilitation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA163474-01
Application #
8218866
Study Section
Nursing and Related Clinical Sciences Study Section (NRCS)
Program Officer
Alfano, Catherine M
Project Start
2012-02-24
Project End
2017-01-31
Budget Start
2012-02-24
Budget End
2013-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$638,710
Indirect Cost
$202,966
Name
Oregon Health and Science University
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
096997515
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97239
Winters-Stone, Kerri M; Medysky, Mary E; Savin, Michael A (2018) Patient-reported and objectively measured physical function in older breast cancer survivors and cancer-free controls. J Geriatr Oncol :
Winters-Stone, Kerri M; Wood, Lisa J; Stoyles, Sydnee et al. (2018) The Effects of Resistance Exercise on Biomarkers of Breast Cancer Prognosis: A Pooled Analysis of Three Randomized Trials. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 27:146-153
Winters-Stone, Kerri M; Horak, Fay; Jacobs, Peter G et al. (2017) Falls, Functioning, and Disability Among Women With Persistent Symptoms of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. J Clin Oncol 35:2604-2612
Stout, Nicole L; Baima, Jennifer; Swisher, Anne K et al. (2017) A Systematic Review of Exercise Systematic Reviews in the Cancer Literature (2005-2017). PM R 9:S347-S384
Winters-Stone, Kerri M; Neil, Sarah E; Campbell, Kristin L (2014) Attention to principles of exercise training: a review of exercise studies for survivors of cancers other than breast. Br J Sports Med 48:987-95
Winters-Stone, Kerri (2014) Tai Ji Quan for the aging cancer survivor: Mitigating the accelerated development of disability, falls, and cardiovascular disease from cancer treatment. J Sport Health Sci 3:52-57
Winters-Stone, Kerri M; Dobek, Jessica C; Bennett, Jill A et al. (2014) Skeletal response to resistance and impact training in prostate cancer survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc 46:1482-8
Knobf, M Tish; Winters-Stone, Kerri (2013) Exercise and cancer. Annu Rev Nurs Res 31:327-65
Winters-Stone, Kerri M; Li, Fuzhong; Horak, Fay et al. (2012) Comparison of tai chi vs. strength training for fall prevention among female cancer survivors: study protocol for the GET FIT trial. BMC Cancer 12:577