In the GET FIT study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Winters-Stone et al found no significant difference in incidence of falls with programs of tai ji quan (also known as tai chi) or strength training vs a stretching control group among postmenopausal women who had received chemotherapy for cancer.
Study Details
In the study, 442 physically underactive women aged 50 to 75 years who completed chemotherapy ≥ 3 months before study entry were enrolled between 2013 and 2018 at the Oregon Health and Science University and community sites. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to supervised group exercise programs of tai ji quan (n = 148), strength training (n = 147), or stretching (control, n = 147) twice weekly for 6 months and were followed for 6 months after intervention. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of falls.
Key Findings
The incidence of falls and fall-related injuries in the total cohort were 21% and 12% during the 6 months prior to enrollment, 26% and 9% during the 6-month intervention period, and 27% and 9% during the 6-month follow-up period.
In adjusted analysis, no significant difference in incidence of falls was observed in the tai ji quan group (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57–1.35) or the strength training group (IRR = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.78–1.72) vs the control group during the 6-month intervention period. No significant differences (IRR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.76–1.89; IRR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.48–1.29) were observed in the 6-month follow-up period.
No significant differences were observed for fall-related injuries across any period in the strength training or control groups. A significant reduction in fall-related injuries in the tai ji quan group occurred between baseline (4.3 per 100 person-months) and intervention period (2.4 per 100 person-months), but the reduction did not persist during the follow-up period.
Over the intervention period, leg strength significantly improved in the strength training group and balance significantly improved in the tai ji quan group vs the control group (both P < .05).
The investigators concluded: “We found no significant reduction in falls for tai ji quan or strength training relative to stretching control in postmenopausal women treated with chemotherapy.”
Kerri M. Winters-Stone, PhD, FACSM, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, is the corresponding author for the Journal of Clinical Oncology article.
Disclosure: The study was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute. For full disclosures of the study authors, visit ascopubs.org.
