Combined Training Intervention for Women Who Underwent Primary Treatment for Breast Cancer

The aim of the present study is analyze the effects of combined training program (resistance and aerobics) in comparison with a non-training group on quality of life, as well as on neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory parameters in breast cancer patients in stages one to three who have finished their treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, 42 women will be randomly divided into two groups: combined training group and control group. The subjects of the combined training group will undergo the intervention three times a week for eight weeks. The combined group will carry out both resistance and aerobic exercises in the same session. The resistance training will be comprised by ten exercises which will alternate body segments with maximum repetitions in the first set and the lower limit of the repetitions interval in the next sets. Along the training, the number of series will be increased whereas the number of repetitions will be decreased. The intensity of the aerobic exercises will be based on the percentage of the heart rate of the anaerobic threshold on the first weeks and on the speed of the anaerobic and aerobic threshold on the last weeks. Before and after the intervention, there will be evaluation of maximal dynamic strength of knee extensors and elbow flexors, maximum voluntary isometric contraction of knee extensors, maximum muscular activity of vastus lateralis and rectus femoris, muscle thickness of knee extensors, peak oxygen uptake and ventilatory threshold, quality of life and cancer-related fatigue. Data will be analyzed by Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) and Bonferroni\'s post-hoc (α=0,05), including both protocol and intention to treat.