%0 Journal Article
%T A preliminary study on the efficacy of a community-based physical activity intervention on physical function-related risk factors for falls among breast cancer survivors
%J American journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation
%D 2016
%A Lee, C. Ellen
%A Warden, Stuart J.
%A Szuck, Beth
%A Lau, Y. K. James
%V 95
%N 8
%P 561-570
%X OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 6-week community-based physical activity (PA) intervention on physical function-related risk factors for falls among 56 breast cancer survivors (BCS) who had completed treatments. <br><br>DESIGN: This was a single-group longitudinal study. The multimodal PA intervention included aerobic, strengthening, and balance components. Physical function outcomes based on the 4-meter walk, chair stand, one-leg stance, tandem walk, and dynamic muscular endurance tests were assessed at 6-week pre-intervention (T1), baseline (T2), and post-intervention (T3). T1 to T2 and T2 to T3 were the control and intervention periods, respectively. <br><br>RESULTS: All outcomes, except the tandem walk test, significantly improved after the intervention period (P < 0.05), with no change detected after the control period (P > 0.05). Based on the falls risk criterion in the one-leg stance test, the proportion at risk for falls was significantly lower after the intervention period (P = 0.04), but not after the control period. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: A community-based multimodal PA intervention for BCS may be efficacious in improving physical function-related risk factors for falls, and lowering the proportion of BCS at risk for falls based on specific physical function-related falls criteria. Further larger trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
%@ 0894-9115
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000000440