TY - JOUR
T1 - Light-intensity activity attenuates functional decline in older cancer survivors
AU - Blair, Cindy K.
AU - Morey, Miriam C.
AU - Desmond, Renee A.
AU - Cohen, Harvey Jay
AU - Sloane, Richard
AU - Snyder, Denise C.
AU - Demark-Wahnefried, Wendy
PY - 2014/7
Y1 - 2014/7
N2 - While moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activities (MVPA) confer the greatest health benefits, evidence suggests that light-intensity activities are also beneficial, particularly for older adults and individuals with moderate to severe comorbidities. Purpose: To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between light-intensity activity and physical function in older cancer survivors at increased risk for age-And treatment-related comorbidities, including accelerated functional decline. Methods: The analysis included data from 641 breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors (54% female) age 65 yr and older who participated in a 1-yr home-based diet and exercise intervention designed to reduce the rate of physical function decline. ANCOVA was used to compare means of physical function across levels of PA intensity (low-light [LLPA]: 1.5-2.0 METs; high-light [HLPA]: 2.1-2.9 METs; MVPA: ‰13.0 METs). Results: In cross-sectional analyses, increasing tertiles of light-intensity activity were associated with higher scores for all three measures of physical function (all P values <0.005), after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, comorbidity, symptoms, and MVPA. Associations were stronger for HLPA than for LLPA. Compared with survivors who had decreased MVPA or maintained stable MVPA and HLPA at the postintervention follow-up, those who had increased HLPA, but had decreased MVPA or maintained stable MVPA, reported higher physical function scores (LS means [95% confidence interval]: SF-36 Physical Function Subscale:-5.58 [-7.96 to-3.20] vs-2.54 [-5.83 to 0.75], P = 0.14; Basic Lower Extremity Function:-2.00 [-3.45 to-0.55] vs 0.28 [-1.72 to 2.28], P = 0.07; Advanced Lower Extremity Function:-2.58 [-4.00 to-1.15] vs 0.44 [-1.52 to 2.40], P = 0.01). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that increasing light-intensity activities, especially HLPA, may be a viable approach to reducing the rate of physical function decline in individuals who are unable or reluctant to initiate or maintain adequate levels of moderate-intensity activities.
AB - While moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activities (MVPA) confer the greatest health benefits, evidence suggests that light-intensity activities are also beneficial, particularly for older adults and individuals with moderate to severe comorbidities. Purpose: To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between light-intensity activity and physical function in older cancer survivors at increased risk for age-And treatment-related comorbidities, including accelerated functional decline. Methods: The analysis included data from 641 breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors (54% female) age 65 yr and older who participated in a 1-yr home-based diet and exercise intervention designed to reduce the rate of physical function decline. ANCOVA was used to compare means of physical function across levels of PA intensity (low-light [LLPA]: 1.5-2.0 METs; high-light [HLPA]: 2.1-2.9 METs; MVPA: ‰13.0 METs). Results: In cross-sectional analyses, increasing tertiles of light-intensity activity were associated with higher scores for all three measures of physical function (all P values <0.005), after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, comorbidity, symptoms, and MVPA. Associations were stronger for HLPA than for LLPA. Compared with survivors who had decreased MVPA or maintained stable MVPA and HLPA at the postintervention follow-up, those who had increased HLPA, but had decreased MVPA or maintained stable MVPA, reported higher physical function scores (LS means [95% confidence interval]: SF-36 Physical Function Subscale:-5.58 [-7.96 to-3.20] vs-2.54 [-5.83 to 0.75], P = 0.14; Basic Lower Extremity Function:-2.00 [-3.45 to-0.55] vs 0.28 [-1.72 to 2.28], P = 0.07; Advanced Lower Extremity Function:-2.58 [-4.00 to-1.15] vs 0.44 [-1.52 to 2.40], P = 0.01). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that increasing light-intensity activities, especially HLPA, may be a viable approach to reducing the rate of physical function decline in individuals who are unable or reluctant to initiate or maintain adequate levels of moderate-intensity activities.
KW - Physical activity
KW - neoplasms
KW - physical function
KW - survivorship
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84902553826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84902553826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000241
DO - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000241
M3 - Article
C2 - 24389524
AN - SCOPUS:84902553826
SN - 0195-9131
VL - 46
SP - 1375
EP - 1383
JO - Medicine and science in sports and exercise
JF - Medicine and science in sports and exercise
IS - 7
ER -