Physical Activity May Lead to Better Sleep Quality in Breast Cancer Survivors
Posted: Monday, January 29, 2018
Breast cancer survivors should get back on the treadmill or bike to earn a better night’s sleep and in turn enhance their treatment, according to new study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Even walking just 20 minutes a day, or 150 minutes per week, seems to be enough to harmonize sleeping patterns, after a study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Health Professions found consistent aerobic exercise led to fewer sleep disturbances and less daytime fatigue.
“Nearly one in three breast cancer survivors suffers from poor sleep, and poor sleep is associated with greater breast cancer mortality,” said principal study investigator Laura Q. Rogers, MD, Professor at UAB, in UAB News. “Our findings are significant because the benefits were of sufficient magnitude to reach and exceed the clinically important threshold.”
Researchers tested 222 breast cancer survivors, half of whom received typical care, and half of whom participated in the Better Exercise Adherence After Treatment for Cancer (BEAT Cancer) program. Through the BEAT Cancer program, the survivors received 6 weeks of personal training before taking on their exercise programs individually. Study measurements were obtained at the 3-month and 6-month marks.
BEAT Cancer improved the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global sleep quality compared with usual care at both months 3 and 6. In addition, Beat CANCER improved several PSQI subscales at month 3 (eg, sleep quality, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction) but not at month 6.
