The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the applied standard of in-hospital physiotherapy and additional inspiratory muscle training on quality of life and exercise tolerance in women treated for breast cancer with surgery and radiotherapy.
The study included 26 women with breast cancer aged between 30 and 69 years, treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCT/BCS) and undergoing radiotherapy. All qualified patients were randomly allocated to: study group - patients received physiotherapy according to the in-hospital rehabilitation standard and inspiratory muscle training with appropriate loading (15%-60% PImax load). Control group (SHAM-IMT) - patients received physiotherapy according to the in-hospital rehabilitation standard and performed inspiratory muscle training (placebo load 15% PImax load).
The following tests were performed in all patients: inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength testing, Six-minute walk test - assessment of exercise tolerance, Quality of life assessment using the standardised quality of life form (WHOQOL-BREF). Physiotherapy was conducted according to an in-hospital standard.
Appropriate analyses of variance and post-hoc tests were performed.
There was a significant decrease in PImax values after surgery in both groups, a significant increase at 4 weeks after surgery (before radiotherapy) was recorded only in the study group. Similar values were recorded at study 4 i.e. after radiotherapy, a significant increase in PImax was recorded in the study group, while there was no change in the control group. Exercise tolerance values differed at each stage of the study conducted, both in the study and control groups, while there were no differences between groups at individual measurement points. All analysed domains of women's quality of life differed significantly before and after treatment, both in the study and control groups, while there were no differences between groups at either measurement point.
The different stages of oncological treatment, including surgery and radiotherapy, had a negative impact on exercise tolerance and quality of life in women treated for breast cancer. In both groups, the surgery performed resulted in a greater reduction in mean exercise tolerance values than the radiotherapy applied later in the treatment. In the control group, after radiotherapy there was a further spike in the reduction of the mean values of the tested respiratory functional parameters, which was not shown in the study group with additional inspiratory muscle training applied. The application of physiotherapy reduced the adverse consequences of radical breast cancer treatment related to exercise tolerance.
The additional use of inspiratory muscle training enhanced the therapeutic effect of physiotherapy in restoring exercise tolerance in women after cancer treatment. Adding inspiratory muscle training to physiotherapy reduces the adverse sequelae of treatment related to exercise tolerance improving women's quality of life.
physiotherapy
inspiratory muscle strength
