Author(s)

Daniel Santa Mina, Paul Ritvo, Andrew G. Matthew, Ajay Rampersad, Helga Stein, Angela M. Cheung, John Trachtenberg, Shabbir M. H. Alibhai

Kinesiology Program, University of Guelph-Humber, Toronto, Canada.
School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Canada.
The Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated psychosocial and physical benefit from exercise for older men treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PCa). To date, different intervention delivery methods have not been assessed. This study compared the effect of group-based exercise (GBE) to personal training (PT) in men undergoing ADT for PCa. Methods: 13 participants (mean age = 68.2, SD = 7.2) were randomly assigned to GBE or PT for 8 weeks. Participants exercised for 60 minutes three times per week at a moderate-vigorous intensity. Results: 10 participants completed the intervention. At post-intervention, the PT group improved: fatigue, systolic BP, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and maximal leg strength; participants in the GBE group improved leg strength. At 8 weeks, maximal upper body strength in the PT group was greater than the GBE group. There were no adverse events associated with moderate-high intensity training in this population of older men. Conclusion: PT may be more efficacious than GBE in improving several physical fitness outcomes and fatigue in men with PCa who are androgen deprived. Due to the small sample size and attrition, these results require cautious interpretation and confirmation from adequately powered trials.

Group Exercise; Personal Training; Prostate Cancer; Pilot Randomized Trial

D. Santa Mina, P. Ritvo, A. G. Matthew, A. Rampersad, H. Stein, A. M. Cheung, J. Trachtenberg and S. M. H. Alibhai, "Group Exercise versus Personal Training for Prostate Cancer Patients: A Pilot Randomized Trial," Journal of Cancer Therapy, Vol. 3 No. 2, 2012, pp. 146-156. doi: 10.4236/jct.2012.32020.