TheEffectsofWalkingPolesonShoulderFunctioninBreast.PDFVIP

Walking Pole Exercise and Breast Cancer Survivors Walking Pole Exercise and Breast Cancer SurvivorsSprod et al10.1177/1534735405282212 The Effects of Walking Poles on Shoulder Function in Breast Cancer Survivors Lisa K. Sprod, MS, Scott N. Drum, MS, Ann T. Bentz, PhD, Susan D. Carter, MD, and Carole M. Schneider, PhD Breast cancer treatment often results in impaired shoulder chemotherapy. Shoulder impairment is common fol- function, in particular, decrements in muscular endurance lowing localized treatment, such as surgery and radia- and range of motion, which may lead to decreased quality of tion, and often severe enough to negatively effect life. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the quality of life.4,5 Chemotherapy, on the other hand, effects of walking pole use on shoulder function in female does not directly effect shoulder function but can con- breast cancer survivors. Participants had previously been tribute to cancer-related fatigue and ultimately a treated with 1 or a combination of the following: mastectomy, 6,7 diminished quality of life. breast conservation therapy, axillary lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, or radiation. Participants were randomly Cardiorespiratory exercise is beneficial psychologi- placed in experimental (n = 6) and control (n = 6) groups and cally and physiologically as a mode of cancer rehabili- met with a cancer exercise speciali