Exercise improves quality of life for patients with bone metastases

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to new findings presented at the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia's (COSA's) Annual Scientific Meeting in Melbourne, Australia, resistance training and aerobic exercise programs specifically designed to avoid injuring fragile areas of bone metastases are safe and more effective than avoiding physical activity for patients with cancer and bone metastases.

Researchers at the Edith Cowan University Health and Wellness Institute in Perth, Australia, investigated the effects of an individualized exercise program for patients with breast and prostate cancer who have metastases in the bone. The exercise programs maintained training to the body while avoiding the fragile bone sites caused by metastases.

Results showed that patients in the intervention group had improved neuromuscular strength, aerobic fitness, walking speed, physical activity, and muscle mass with no increases in bone pain or adverse events.

Most patients with cancer are often advised to exercise, but patients with skeletal metastases are the exception. The findings suggest that remaining active while avoiding fragile areas can improve quality of life without increasing the number of adverse events.

The authors note that patients with cancer who have bone metastases who are treated with this exercise intervention should be monitored closely by an exercise physiologist.