EXERT-BC Cardio: Cardio or Conditioning Training With Breast Cancer

Purpose

In this study, the investigators hypothesize that observed intense resistance training with conditioning elicits similar changes in body composition, muscle mass, and blood pressure as that with cardiovascular training (or cardio) for women treated with breast cancer.

Conditions

  • Cancer
  • Breast Cancer

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 20 Years and 89 Years
Eligible Sex
Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Age 20-89 years 2. Women prescribed exercise as a SOC 3. Women with a biopsy proven diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive carcinoma of the breast 4. Women must have undergone treatment for breast cancer, including one or more of the following: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or hormonal therapy. Women undergoing active chemotherapy are not allowed on study. Immunotherapy or targeted agent usage is allowed. 5. Women with > 3 months of resistance training experience under expert guidance by a CSCS 6. Must be able to read and understand English and consent for themselves.

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Any current treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy for breast cancer 2. Inability to safely engage in group sessions of resistance training as deemed by study PI 3. Severe arthritic, joint, cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal condition deemed by PI to be unsafe to engage in resistance training 4. Beta blocker or GLP-1 inhibitor medications 5. Pregnant women 6. Males

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Other
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Cardio Training
  • Behavioral: Resistance Training with Cardio
    Participants in this arm will engage in a supervised exercise regimen three times per week, for approximately 2 months (8 weeks). The regimen combines two days of hypertrophy-focused resistance training with a third day dedicated to steady-state cardiovascular exercise. The cardio day will utilize ergometer-based exercises (rowing ergometer, Assault Air Bike) and unweighted sled pushes, with each activity lasting 10 minutes continuously. The overall program aims to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in breast cancer survivors, under the guidance of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS).
Experimental
Conditioning Training
  • Behavioral: Resistance Training with Conditioning
    Participants in this arm will engage in a supervised exercise regimen three times per week, for approximately 2 months (8 weeks). The regimen combines two days of hypertrophy-focused resistance training with a third day dedicated to high-intensity conditioning. The conditioning day involves a circuit format of 6 total exercises, completed for 8 repetitions each across 8 sets, with limited rest periods (10 seconds or less) between exercises and sets. Exercise selection is total-body focused, alternating between upper and lower body movements. The program aims to improve muscular conditioning and body composition in breast cancer survivors, under the guidance of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS).

Recruiting Locations

AHN Allegheny General Hospital
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212
Contact:
Clinical Trials Contact
412-330-6151
ctgov@ahn.org

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Allegheny Singer Research Institute (also known as Allegheny Health Network Research Institute)

Study Contact

Clinical Trials Contact
412-330-6151
ctgov@ahn.org