# A 3-week multimodal intervention involving high-intensity interval training in female cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial

PMID: 26869680
Journal: Physiological reports
Published: 2016 Feb
Authors: Schmitt J, Lindner N, Reuss-Borst M, Holmberg HC, Sperlich B

## Question

Can an 8-session high-intensity interval walking program be safely integrated into multimodal cancer rehabilitation, and how does it compare with lower-intensity moderate exercise for fitness, body composition, activity, fatigue, and quality of life?

## Summary

In a 3-week inpatient multimodal rehabilitation program for female cancer survivors, high-intensity uphill walking intervals were feasible and had no reported negative side effects. Compared with lower-intensity moderate exercise, HIIT produced similar quality-of-life and fatigue improvements and greater improvement in walking economy, while peak VO2 improved only in the moderate-exercise group.

## Population

- Female cancer survivors after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, most with breast cancer, aged under 70 years, BMI 17-35, and without contraindications to maximal testing or training. The article reports 28 randomized in the abstract and 26 analyzed in the methods/tables.
- Sample size: 26
- Age: About 53-54 years
- Sex: Female
- Fitness level: Cancer survivors in rehabilitation
- Health status: Post chemotherapy/radiotherapy cancer survivors screened for contraindications

## Methodology

- Single-center two-arm randomized controlled trial embedded in multimodal rehabilitation
- 3 weeks
- Clinical rehabilitation center with outdoor/indoor exercise
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Uphill walking HIIT.
- Modality: Outdoor uphill walking.
- Work intervals: 8 x 1 min intense walking.
- Recovery: 2 min slow walking.
- Sets or repetitions: 8 repetitions.
- Intensity: Work intervals above 95% of treadmill-test HRpeak after warm-up at 70% HRpeak.
- Session duration: About 29 min including 5 min warm-up.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week, 8 sessions total.
- Program length: 3 weeks.
- Progression: No explicit interval progression reported.
- Lower/moderate-intensity exercise.
- Modality: Outdoor walking plus indoor cycling.
- Work intervals: Continuous moderate exercise.
- Sets or repetitions: 60 min walking plus 15 min cycling.
- Intensity: About 60% HRpeak.
- Session duration: 75 min.
- Frequency: 6 sessions over 3 weeks.
- Program length: 3 weeks.
- Progression: Not reported.

## Outcomes

### Feasibility
Status: improved
Both groups completed 93% of prescribed sessions; no session was terminated and no negative side effects were reported.

### Peak VO2
Status: mixed
Peak VO2 improved after lower/moderate-intensity exercise but not after HIIT.

### Walking economy
Status: improved
Submaximal walking economy improved more after HIIT than after lower/moderate-intensity exercise.

### Fatigue
Status: improved
HIIT improved multiple fatigue scales, including general, physical, mental, activity, and motivation dimensions.

### Body composition
Status: mixed
HIIT reduced total fat mass within group, while between-group body-composition differences were not significant.

## Practical Insights

- Short uphill walking intervals can be feasible in medically screened female cancer survivors during supervised rehabilitation.
- A HIIT option may reduce endurance-exercise time while preserving some rehabilitation benefits.
- Clinical users require screening, supervision, and individualized HR targets before high-intensity work.

## Limitations

- Small sample size.
- Short 3-week intervention.
- Multimodal rehabilitation makes it difficult to isolate exercise effects.
- Baseline fatigue differed between groups.
- SenseWear may underestimate high-intensity energy expenditure.
- The article is inconsistent about the randomized/analyzed sample count.

## Safety And Adherence

- No negative side effects occurred and no training session was terminated. The study excluded several medical contraindications.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26869680/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.12693) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4758922/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.