"There are many cancer patients, using BFR training with no discernible ill effects. B Strong BFR has been shown to increase Lean Body Mass (LBM) in cancer patients (see attached) increasing muscle and strength.
In my judgement the potential benefits are impressive."
- Jim Stray-Gundersen, MD
Abstract
Introduction: The impact of prehabilitation remains controversial due to a short presurgical waiting period and the diminished capacity of the patient population. A strategy to augment and optimize the effectiveness of prehabilitations for abdominal cancer patients may be found in the unlikely field of sport science. We investigated the use of blood flow restriction training and sport nutrition supplementation to augment functional capacity and increase muscle strength in twenty-four abdominal cancer patients awaiting surgery.
Materials and methods: The sport science-based program was comprised of blood flow restriction exercise 5 to 6 times per week and a daily sports nutrition supplement containing L-citrulline, creatine monohydrate, and whey protein. Results: After 4 weeks of prehabilitation, 6-min walk test, timed up and go, short physical performance battery, 5-chair stand test and physical component score of quality of life were significantly improved (all p < 0.05). Total body and appendicular lean mass as assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry increased by 0.73 ± 1.04 kg (p ¼ 0.004) and 0.42 ± 0.64 kg (p ¼ 0.006), respectively. Total body fat mass and trunk fat mass decreased (p ¼ 0.004 and p ¼ 0.021). There were no significant changes in hand grip strength, fear of falling, the mental component summary of quality of life, or fasting serum concentrations of myostatin, follistatin, and growth hormone.
Conclusion: A multimodal prehabilitation program, which encompasses blood flow restriction training and sports nutrition supplements, is both feasible and effective in improving lean mass and physical function in abdominal cancer patients prior to surgery.
View the complete study here: Prehabilitation program composed of blood flow restriction training and sports nutrition improves physical functions in abdominal cancer patients awaiting surgery
SOURCES
Savannah V. Wooten a, R.Y. Declan Fleming b, J. Stuart Wolf Jr. b, Sten Stray-Gundersen a, John B. Bartholomew a, Diana Mendoza b, Philip R. Stanforth a, Dixie Stanforth a, Ladia M. Hernandez c, Hirofumi Tanaka a, *
a Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, USA
b Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, USA
c Department of Nutritional Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical
Oncology. All rights reserved.
