BRC453599_sm_Suppl._Material.pdf (223.01 kB)
Supplementary Material for: Nordic Walking and the Isa Method for Breast Cancer Survivors: Effects on Upper Limb Circumferences and Total Body Extracellular Water - a Pilot Study
journal contribution
posted on 2016-12-02, 09:06 authored by Di Blasio A., Morano T., Napolitano G., Bucci I., Di Santo S., Gallina S, Cugusi L, Di Donato F., D'Arielli A., Cianchetti E.Background: The negative side effects of breast cancer
treatments can include upper limb lymphoedema. The
growing literature indicates that Nordic walking is an effective
discipline against several disease symptoms. The
aim of this study was to determine whether introduction
to Nordic walking alone is effective against total body extracellular
water and upper limb circumferences in breast
cancer survivors compared to its combination with a series
of specifically created exercises (i.e. the Isa method).
Methods: 16 breast cancer survivors (49.09 ± 2.24 years)
were recruited and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 different
training groups. Results: 10 lessons on Nordic walking
technique plus the Isa method significantly reduced both
extracellular body water and the extracellular-to-total
body water ratio (p = 0.01 for both), and also the circumference
of the upper limb, (both relaxed arm and forearm
circumferences) (p = 0.01 for all), whereas Nordic walking
alone did not. Conclusions: Introduction to Nordic walking
does not seem to affect lymphoedema in breast cancer
survivors. This might be because novice Nordic Walkers
do not adequately generate an effective muscular pump
through coordination of the alternated bimanual openclose
cycle. The Isa method appears to close this gap.