Preliminary effectiveness of a telehealth-delivered exercise program in older adults living with and beyond cancer: A retrospective study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Exercise can attenuate the deleterious combined effects of cancer treatment and aging among older adults with cancer (OAWC), yet exercise participation is low. Telehealth exercise may improve exercise engagement by decreasing time and transportation barriers; however, the utility of telehealth exercise among OAWC is not well established.
Objective:
We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a one-on-one, supervised telehealth exercise program on cancer treatment related outcomes among OAWC.
Methods:
In this retrospective study, we analyzed data collected from the Personal Optimism with Exercise Recovery (POWER) program delivered via telehealth among OAWC (≥ 65 years) who completed an initial program assessment between March 2020 and December 2021. We evaluated physical function, muscular endurance, balance, and flexibility after 12-weeks of telehealth exercise. Change scores were calculated for all assessments and compared to minimal clinically important difference (MCID) values for assessments with published MCIDs. Univariate analysis of variance were conducted to determine change in outcomes, adjusted for sex and body mass index.
Results:
OAWC who chose to participate in telehealth exercise (n=68) were 71.8 ± 5.3 years of age (range: 65-92 years). A follow-up assessment was completed by 29.4% (n=20) of OAWC. Among those who completed a follow-up assessment, there were significant increases in the 30-second chair stand (+2.00 reps, 95% CI: 0.40, 3.60) and 30-second maximum push-up scores (+2.85 reps, 95% CI: 1.53, 4.17). There were no significant differences for the 2-minute standing march, plank, single-leg stance, sit and reach, shoulder mobility, or clock test (p > 0.05). Nine OAWC (47.3%) had a change in 30-second chair stand score greater than the MCID of two repetitions.
Conclusions:
Our findings demonstrate telehealth exercise may attenuate declines in physical function, muscular endurance, balance, and flexibility among OAWC, but more adequately powered trials are needed to confirm these findings.
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