Winningham, M.L., & MacVicar, M.G. (1988). The effect of aerobic exercise on patient reports of nausea. Oncology Nursing Forum, 15, 447-450.

To evaluate the therapeutic value of exercise to control or reduce nausea in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy

Subjects were randomized to one of three groups.

• The experimental exercise group participated in a 10-week supervised program with a cycle ergometer and aerobic and interval training three times per week.
• In the placebo group, subjects met with exercise leaders on a weekly basis for conversational interaction and the mild stretching and flexibility exercises, which the experimental group also had performed during warm-up and cool down.
• The control group received no treatment, but patients were instructed to continue normal activities and notify study personnel if they began exercising.

• The study consisted of 42 women with breast cancer.
• The mean age of patients was 46 years.
• No race or ethnicity data were recorded.
• All patients were receiving chemotherapy (no doxorubicin), had had surgical treatment (mastectomy or lumpectomy), did not have uncontrolled cardiac disease or hypertension, were within the first six months of chemotherapy, and had had three treatments before entering the program.
• Functional capacity at baseline was 0-2 Zubrod score or Karnofsky Performance Status of 60%–100%.
• No participants were in an exercise program, and all were medically cleared by an oncologist.

• Participants were from a large Midwestern city.
• Patients were recruited from outpatient clinics, private practices, and a university medical center.

The design was randomized, with three groups and pre- and post-test measures.

Pretest to post-test nausea responses were coded as improved, no change, or worsened as reported on the Derogatis Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, a 5-point distress/somatization scale. This somatization scale has 12 items and includes a variety of symptoms common to medical patients.

The differences among the experimental, control, and placebo groups were statistically significant, with the experimental group showing marked improvement in nausea compared to the control and placebo groups. The experimental group showed significant improvements in the Somatization scale scores (i.e., perceptions of autonomically mediated symptoms) over the control and placebo groups.

• The study was restricted to women with breast cancer who were on a specific aerobic exercise protocol; therefore, the study is not generalizable to other groups with cancer.
• One cannot assume that other exercise techniques will generate the same results.
• Patients with a history of hypertension or cardiac disease were excluded.
• No patients receiving doxorubicin were admitted into the study.
• Exercise testing was monitored by a physician.

Moderate aerobic exercise may provide some benefit in reducing nausea. Researchers recommended that patients abstain from exercise several hours prior to blood testing and on days of treatment.