Development of a pre- and postoperative physical activity promotion program integrated in the electronic health system of patients with bladder cancer (The POPEYE study): An intervention mapping approach.

INTRODUCTION: Uptake of sufficient physical activity before and after radical cystectomy is important to improve physical and psychosocial outcomes in bladder cancer (BC) patients. METHODS: In this paper, we describe the development of an evidence-based and theory-informed intervention, guided by the steps of the Intervention Mapping approach, to promote physical activity before and after radical cystectomy in patients with BC. RESULTS: The intervention is a home-based physical activity program. The preoperative timeframe of the intervention is 4 or 12 weeks, depending on administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Postoperatively, the intervention will last for 12 weeks. The intervention consists of a digital oncological platform (DOP), several consultations with healthcare professionals, personal booklet and follow-up phone calls. DOP includes information, diaries, visual representation of progress, mailbox, videos of peers and treating physician explaining the benefits of physical activity, photo material of exercises and a walking program with an activity tracker. Individual goals will be set and will be self-monitored by the patient through DOP. Patients will receive alerts and regular feedback. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention Mapping ensures transparency of all intervention components and offers a useful approach for the development of behaviour change interventions for cancer patients and for translation of theories into practice.

Whole-body vibration in breast cancer survivors: a pilot study exploring its effects on muscle activity and subjectively perceived exertion.

The aim of this study was to analyse muscle activity and subjectively perceived exertion [rating of perceived exertion (RPE)] during whole-body vibration (WBV) in breast cancer survivors. Twenty breast cancer survivors and 20 healthy controls performed isometric squats on a vibration platform. RPE and muscle activity (surface electromyography) of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius were recorded under the following conditions: nonvibration (0 Hz) and vibration (20-30-40-50 Hz) conditions. No significant differences were found between groups with regard to muscle activity (P=0.471) and RPE (P=0.629). Only for vastus medialis was muscle activity higher at 20 and 30 Hz compared with 40 and 50 Hz (P<0.05). RPE increased with increasing vibration frequency; however, no difference was found between 20 and 30 Hz (P=0.088). WBV at 20 and 30 Hz revealed lower subjectively perceived exertion and the highest muscle activity and therefore provide the optimal modalities for WBV in breast cancer survivors.