Combined Exercise Effects in Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema

• Background - Arm lymphedema is a common, debilitating complication following breast cancer treatment, affecting 20-40% of breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is characterized by chronic limb swelling resulting from a significant complication caused by axillary lymph node removal and radiotherapy-induced fibrosis. Symptoms include limb swelling, weakness, decreased mobility, pain, and heaviness, significantly impacting quality of life, daily activities, emotional distress, and social isolation.

Exercise has emerged as a promising non-invasive intervention for BCRL management, supported by leading organizations such as the International Society of Lymphology and the American Society of Breast Surgeons. While traditionally viewed as a risk factor for exacerbating the condition, recent research has highlighted its therapeutic benefits. Strength exercise improves lymphatic function and reduces symptom severity through muscle pump and lymphatic vessel contraction. Aerobic exercise also supports lymph flow through blood circulation and respiration, which creates pressure changes in the thoracic-abdominal cavities and compresses and decompresses lymphatic vessels. Despite the isolated benefits of both types of exercise, the combined exercise (aerobic + strength) may yield additional benefits. However, the effects of combined exercise remain unexplored in BCRL patients. Strength exercise is associated with improved lymphatic function and increased muscle strength, e.g., handgrip strength - a vital health parameter. Aerobic exercise has been linked to enhancements in body composition, cardiometabolic health, inflammatory profile, increased quality of life, and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. Therefore, it is justified to explore the potential benefits of combined exercise for patients with BCRL. Although assessing lymphedema remains challenging in clinical practice, the lymphedema index (L-Dex), based on bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS), provides an objective method for detecting BCRL. The device measures extracellular fluid resistance using the L-Dex ratio, which compares dominant and non-dominant arm values. Although a precise method, it has never been tested in a combined exercise intervention.

From a more mechanistic standpoint, it is known that body water compartments, including total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), and Intracellular water (ICW) plays a crucial role in fluid balance and cellular function. In BCRL, disruptions in this balance - particularly an elevated ECW:ICW (E:I) ratio-may reflect swelling and symptom severity. Research with a clinical population (e.g., elderly or patients with heart failure) suggests that a higher appendicular E:I ratio correlates with lower handgrip and mobility, independent of skeletal muscle mass. These findings suggest that interventions to improve the E:I ratio could enhance overall strength and health. Exercise has been previously demonstrated to improve the E:I ratio in older women and was associated with increased muscle strength. Although our research team has investigated these water compartments in athletes, no study has evaluated them via dilution techniques in BCRL patients. Given the importance of fluid dynamics in lymphedema management, examining these parameters-particularly in response to combined exercise-is crucial to advancing current clinical practice. Another vital point is that acute responses to fluid dynamics have received less attention in research, which may provide insights into the effects of exercise on BCRL and corroborate long-term alterations. Although commonly used, circumferences provide little detailed information about fluids. In contrast, ultrasound combined with plasma volume (PV) analysis has been proposed as a novel method to detect fluid shifts in trained men. Combining ultrasound to assess muscle thickness with PV measurement allows conclusions about acute muscle and vascular fluid, offering insights into the body's response to exercise. This could be valuable for understanding acute fluid mechanisms in BCRL.

In summary, despite progress in BCRL management, gaps remain in understanding the effects of combined exercise on lymphedema and body water compartments. Additionally, research on the acute impact of exercise on fluid mechanisms is needed, as these responses have been less explored in this population. The LymFit project primarily aims to assess the effects of 12 weeks of combined exercise on L-Dex in BCRL patients. Secondary objectives include evaluating exercise's effects on i) E:I ratio (dilution techniques); ii) Body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), handgrip strength (dynamometry), cardiorespiratory fitness, quality of life, arm disability, anxiety, depression (questionnaires), and inflammatory profile (blood analysis). The project also examines acute exercise (pre- to post-session) responses on iii) Lymphedema (L-Dex) and iv) Fluid shifts (ultrasound muscle thickness + PV measurement).

• Design - This study will be a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving a usual care group (UG) and an experimental group (EG) during 12 weeks of intervention. No exercise advice will be provided in the UC, whereas the EG will receive the CDT and three one-hour weekly exercise sessions.
• Hypothesis - A 12-week combined exercise program will: a) reduce the L-Dex in BCRL patients; b) enhance the E:I ratio, indicating improved fluid balance; and c) improve body composition, handgrip strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, quality of life, and inflammatory profile.

A session of combined exercise will induce a) acute reductions in L-Dex, b) increases in muscle thickness (via ultrasound), and c) a reduction in PV.

• Intervention - An accredited exercise physiologist will supervise the three sessions of combined exercise (strength and aerobic) per week during the 12-week intervention. The exercise sessions will follow a structured format designed to allow the intervention to be scalable after the study is completed, enabling its implementation in community programs targeting this population. Accordingly, the exercises will be selected to ensure the intervention can be replicated. The exercise sessions will follow a structured format: The participants will start with a low-intensity warm-up and then proceed to 30 minutes of muscular hypertrophy exercise. Subsequently, participants will perform 20 minutes of aerobic exercise using a static bicycle.

The resistance exercises target the torso's upper and lower limb' muscle groups. Resistance will be set at a weight that participants can lift for 10-12 repetitions, corresponding to an intensity of 5-7 ("somewhat hard-hard") on the OMNI-Resistance Exercise Scale during weeks 1-7 and 7-9 ("hard-extremely hard") during weeks 8-12. Resistance will be increased if participants can lift the weight more than 12 times. If the new weight cannot be lifted, the number of repetitions will be increased from 12 to 14, with instructions to attempt an increase in resistance subsequently. The aerobic exercise consists of cycling on a static bicycle. The target heart rate for the aerobic exercise component will be set at 40-60% (moderate intensity) as recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) of each participant's individualized heart rate reserve (HRR), determined by a graded exercise test performed at the baseline assessments. The Borg scale will be utilized as a subjective measure of perceived exertion throughout the strength session, with a target of 11-12, corresponding to 40-59% of HRR. The aerobic training intensity will be monitored using a heart rate monitor (Polar, H10, Finland). The progression will be individualized depending on the participants' tolerance. Exercise sessions will be monitored and recorded to track progression, compliance, and adherence to the intervention.

• Sample - Participants will be recruited through Hospital Santa Maria in Lisbon and the Associação Nacional de Doentes Linfáticos, collaborating institutions with an extensive database of eligible patients.

The sample size was determined using G*Power v3.1.2, with an α of 0.05, a power of 0.8, and an effect size of 0.27. The effect size was calculated for the primary outcome based on arm L-Dex (our primary outcome), reported in previous research with breast cancer survivors. This calculation yielded a required sample size of 48 participants. To account for a potential dropout rate of approximately 20%, as observed in prior research on exercise interventions in cancer survivors (with reported dropout rates ranging from 5.1% to 19.8%), the total sample size was adjusted to 58 participants (29 in each group).

• Statistical analysis - Statistical analysis will be performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29, 2021, for Windows (SPSS Inc., an IBM Company, Chicago, IL, USA).

Descriptive statistics will be employed to characterize the study population at baseline, and data will be summarized using mean and standard deviation for continuous variables and frequencies with percentages for categorical variables. Normality will be assessed for both primary and secondary outcomes using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Linear Mixed Models (LMMs) will evaluate group differences and changes over time. LMMs will account for fixed effects (e.g., group, time, and group-by-time interactions) and random effects to model individual variability. Restricted maximum likelihood estimation (REML) will provide unbiased estimates of variance components. An unstructured covariance matrix will be applied unless model fit indices suggest an alternative covariance structure. Post hoc pairwise comparisons will be conducted using Bonferroni correction to adjust for multiple comparisons. Statistical significance will be set at p < 0.05.

• Contingency plan -

A significant challenge for the LymFit project is maintaining participant adherence throughout the 12-week study duration. As mentioned before, research on exercise interventions in cancer survivors reported dropout rates ranging from 5.1% to 19.8%. The investigators performed a meticulous sample size calculation to prevent a 20% dropout. Still, understanding in advance that the frequency of exercise sessions and assessments may lead to scheduling conflicts, risking reduced compliance, the investigators will address these issues, implementing specific strategies supported by the scientific literature:

• Expanded recruitment channels: The investigators have multiple recruitment channels, each providing access to a diverse database of potential participants. However, if the recruitment flow proves insufficient, a team member (HSC) maintains professional connections with various hospitals, which can be contacted throughout the study.
• Capacity to adapt to confounding variables: While the investigators aim to include patients receiving conservative treatments like lymphatic drainage and offer free sessions to standardize access, variability in availability and adherence is expected. If homogenization is unfeasible, our team will leverage its expertise to address this variable in the statistical analysis.
• Flexible planning: The intervention will last 12 weeks. However, as a contingency measure, the investigators have allocated 8 months to account for potential setbacks. Additionally, the investigators will organize the sample into two cohorts to facilitate the study's management. Participants will also be allowed to attend the FMH facilities at their convenience to receive the intervention, with a team member available to conduct the training rather than adhering to fixed session times.
• Regular Communication and Motivation: The research team will effectively communicate with participants through regular check-ins, motivational messages, and feedback sessions.
• Pilot Study: A pilot study will help identify potential barriers and refine strategies to enhance participant engagement early on.
• Educational Support after the Study: In the final week, a nutritionist will conduct two nutritional education sessions for participants to support their post-study well-being. Participants will receive a personalized "Nutrition Card" with practical tips. These sessions are scheduled after the study to maintain dietary consistency during the 12-week intervention.
• Community program: A community outreach program that will motivate and provide the conditions for participants to continue exercise training after the intervention ends.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18 years or older;
• Undergone breast cancer surgery with removal of at least one lymph node;
• Clinical diagnosis of stable unilateral breast cancer-related lymphedema;
• Willing and able to engage in exercise;
• Have not participated in a structured exercise program in the previous 6 months;
• Medical clearance to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Unstable lymphedema (therapist-delivered treatment and more than one arm infection requiring antibiotics in the past 3 months);
• Undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy by infusion for breast cancer;
• Bilateral lymphedema;
• Primary lymphedema;
• Uncontrolled heart disease (e.g., uncontrolled coronary heart disease, heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension);
• Type II diabetes;
• Psychological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's);
• Significant physical disabilities;
• Pregnancy and/or breastfeeding;
• Kidney disease.