400 Section - Circuit Training Mitigates Functional Decline in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

KC

Kye Hee Cho, MD

Clinical Associate Professor
Yongin Severance Hospital
Yongin, Kyonggi-do, Republic of Korea

Corresponding Author/Autor a quien dirigir la corr(s)

SI

Sang Hee IM, MD

Professor
Department and Research Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine
Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

EH

Eun Young Han, MD

Professor
Jeju National University
Jeju, Cheju-do, Republic of Korea

Objectives : Adjuvant chemotherapy (AdjCTx) is associated with muscle weakness, fatigue, and functional decline in breast cancer patients, with gait deterioration and fall risk frequently reported. Structured exercise has emerged as a potential countermeasure, yet its feasibility and efficacy during active chemotherapy remain underexplored.

Design:

Forty postoperative breast cancer patients participated in a supervised circuit-based exercise (CBE) program integrating aerobic and eccentric resistance training at 60% one-repetition maximum. Participants were stratified into AdjCTx (+) (n = 20) and AdjCTx (–) (n = 20) groups. Functional outcomes included isokinetic knee extensor strength (KEPT), gait speed (10-meter walk test), balance (Berg Balance Scale), and mobility (Timed Up and Go, TUG). Body composition (ALMI, MBI) was also assessed.

Results:

Both groups demonstrated progressive improvements in KEPT across the intervention, with significant correlations to enhanced gait speed, balance, and reduced TUG times, underscoring the central role of strength in preserving mobility. Notably, AdjCTx (+) patients exhibited a progressive decrease in MBI but preserved ALMI, suggesting maintenance of lean mass despite chemotherapy-related metabolic stress. Preservation of gait function in the AdjCTx (+) group contrasts with prior evidence of chemotherapy-induced gait decline and fall risk, highlighting the protective role of CBE.

Conclusion:

CBE can be safely and effectively implemented during chemotherapy, mitigating functional decline by enhancing lower-limb strength and preserving gait performance. These findings support integration of structured CBE into routine supportive care to promote independence and reduce fall risk in breast cancer patients undergoing AdjCTx.