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Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(3): 1023-1033, 2019. Although cognitive dysfunction is a common occurrence among breast cancer survivors, there is no widely recognized intervention for this debilitating condition. The purpose of this study was to determine whether floor/step aerobics (FSA) and/or treadmill walking (TMW) interventions can improve outcomes when compared to standard care (STC). Recent breast cancer survivors participated in 12 weeks of FSA (n=8), TMW (n=7), or STC (n=10) with pre/post assessments of cognition and fitness. Interaction effects between group and time were assessed with repeated measures ANOVA. Throughout the extent of cognitive and fitness assessments, there were found to be no statistically significant interactions between group and time. Because of the small sample size, these results should not be taken to mean that exercise cannot improve cognition in recent breast cancer survivors, but this study should be used as a baseline for designing similar studies with a longer intervention, more intense exercise program, or another alteration that might increase effectiveness of the intervention. More research is needed in this area, but until more specific study results are available, healthcare providers should continue to encourage breast cancer survivors to regularly participate in aerobic exercise to maintain physical function.

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