Effect of physical activity on bone strength and body composition in breast cancer premenopausal women during endocrine therapy

Breast cancer endocrine therapy (ET, goserelin and tamoxifen) is one of the most basic therapeutic methods in oncology, and is well known to enhance osteoporotic changes. Drugs blocking ovarian function in women with breast cancer lead to estrogen deficiency, which produces more osteoclasts and an decrease in bone mineral density (BMD). Furthermore, it leads to an increase in body mass, redistribution of fatty tissue with a rise of visceral fat (gynoid to android distribution), as well as a fall in free fat body mass (FFBM).

Physical activity exerts positive influence on BMD and body composition (BC); hence the objective of this study: what's the effect of aerobic and resistance training (AT and RT) during endocrine therapy on BMD and body composition?

Results: After 6 months of the ET without physical activity the bone mineral density (BMD) in all regions and the hip structure parameters were lower in comparison to the baseline and there was a significant increase in fatty tissue. The introduction of daily aerobic training for 6 months caused a slowdown in negative changes in bones, and body fat was reduced. The introduction of resistance training improved BMD and sarcopenia.

Take home message: Frequent aerobic and resistance training can reverse the negative effects of long term hormonal treatment for breast cancer patients. > From: Hojan et al., Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 49 (2013) 331-339. All rights reserved to Edizioni Minerva Medica.

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