Individualized Exercise Programs for Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Acute or Relapsed Myeloid Leukemia or Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Summary

RATIONALE: An individualized exercise program may be effective in lessening fatigue and depression and improving quality of life in patients undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well individualized exercise programs work in patients receiving chemotherapy for newly diagnosed acute or relapsed myeloid leukemia or lymphoblastic leukemia.

Conditions

• Depression
• Fatigue
• Leukemia
• Musculoskeletal Complications
• Psychosocial Effects of Cancer and Its Treatment

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Resting vitals

The fitness assessments will include the assessment of resting vitals including, blood pressure, heart rate, and hemoglobin saturation (pulse oximeter).

BEHAVIORAL

Body Composition

Body composition and body circumference measurements (anthropometry) will be the only assessments performed multiple times during the study to monitor possible changes in the body composition and swelling of the patients. Body composition analyses will be performed via skinfold measurements following generalized three-site skinfold equations for male and females as recommended by the ACSM, 2005 and via the utilization of a bioelectrical impedance body fat analyzer device.

BEHAVIORAL

Timed Get-up and Go test (TGUG).

The functional mobility of the subjects that will participate in the study will be assessed through the Timed Get-up and Go test (TGUG). The administration of the TGUG includes measuring a distance of 3 meters from the legs of a straight-backed armchair with a seat height of approximately 46 centimeters. The subject will be asked to sit with the back against the chair with the arms on the arm rests. When instructed to begin the test (on the command "Go"), the subject will have to stand upright then walk at a normal walking pace toward the 3 meters mark placed on the ground, turn around, return to the chair, and sit down. The stopwatch was started on the word "Go" and stopped when the subject gets back to starting position.

BEHAVIORAL

Cardiorespiratory assessment

The cardiorespiratory assessment will be performed on a recumbent cycle ergometer. Subjects will be asked to cycle at a target submaximal intensity of 60 % of their percentage of heart rate range until a RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) of 7 is reached on the modified Borg Scale or when the subject requests termination. The Borg modified RPE scale is a scale ranging from 0 to 11 where 0 means no exertion at all and 11 equals to an exertion of absolute maximum. The total time cycling and heart rate (HR) at the end of the test will be recorded immediately after the test is completed.

BEHAVIORAL

Handgrip evaluation

Handgrip strength will be tested using a handgrip dynamometer. Subjects will be asked to stand and hold the handgrip dynamometer in one hand lined with the forearm that will be placed beside the body. Maximum grip strength is then determined without swinging the arm and by squeezing the handgrip dynamometer as hard as possible using one brief maximal contraction with no extraneous body movement. The test will be administered three times for each hand with a one-minute rest in between trials. The best score within the three trials for each arm will be the one that will be used for analysis.

BEHAVIORAL

Dynamic muscular endurance

Subjects will be asked to squat to a 75 degree knee angle with moderate speed, pressing back against the ball at all times. This is repeated as many repetitions as it takes for the subject to report an RPE of 7 or wishes to stop. The second test is the biceps curl exercise. The biceps curls exercise test will follow a protocol developed at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute (RMCRI), Greeley, Colorado. The protocol involves the administration of the exercise biceps curls, done with dumbbells. Subjects will be asked to perform as many repetitions as possible during an alternated biceps curl exercise using a percentage of their body weight as resistance.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)

  collaborator NIH

• UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Claudio L. Battaglini, PhD · UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2006-02-28

Primary Completion

2007-01-31

Completion

2009-08-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations