The use of eHealth to promote PA in cancer survivors is a relatively new concept, which is supported by the recent emergent evidence described in this review. eHealth shows promise as a means of promoting and increasing daily PA, but further high-quality, longer term studies are needed to establish the feasibility and effectiveness of eHealth platforms aimed at that goal.

While this 8-week aerobic exercise pilot intervention did not elicit significant improvements in biomarkers of breast cancer risk, there was some suggestion of improvements in waist circumference and subjectively measured physical activity in participants with >90 % adherence to the programme. A trial of longer duration and greater subject numbers is warranted.

Increased physical activity (PA) has been associated with a decreased risk for the occurrence and recurrence of many cancers. PA is an important outcome measure in rehabilitation interventions within cancer and may be used as a proxy measure of recovery or deterioration in health status following treatment and in the palliative care setting. PA is a complex multi-dimensional construct which is challenging to measure accurately. Factors such as technical precision and feasibility influence the choice of PA measurement tool. Laboratory-based methods are precise and mainly used for validation purposes, but their clinical applicability is limited. Self-report methods such as questionnaires are widely used due to their simplicity and reasonable cost; however, accuracy can be questionable. Objective methods such as pedometers measure step count but do not measure intensity, frequency or duration of activity. Accelerometers can measure PA behaviour at both ends of the movement spectrum from sedentary to vigorous levels of activity and can also provide objective data about the frequency, intensity, type and duration of PA. Balancing precision with ease of use, accelerometry may be the best measure of PA in cancer-based studies, but only a small number of studies have incorporated this measurement. This review will provide a background to PA and an overview of accelerometer measurement as well as technical and practical considerations, so this useful tool could be more widely incorporated into clinical trial research within cancer.

Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) are known to participate in reduced levels of total physical activity. There is no information available however, regarding levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in this population. Reduced participation in MVPA is associated with several cardiometabolic risk factors. The purpose of this study was firstly to compare levels of sedentary, light, MVPA and total activity in adults with CP to adults without CP. Secondly, the objective was to investigate the association between physical activity components, sedentary behavior and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with CP. Adults with CP (n=41) age 18-62 yr (mean ± SD=36.5 ± 12.5 yr), classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System level I (n=13), II (n=18) and III (n=10) participated in this study. Physical activity was measured by accelerometry in adults with CP and in age- and sex-matched adults without CP over 7 days. Anthropometric indicators of obesity, blood pressure and several biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease were also measured in adults with CP. Adults with CP spent less time in light, moderate, vigorous and total activity, and more time in sedentary activity than adults without CP (p<0.01 for all). Moderate physical activity was associated with waist-height ratio when adjusted for age and sex (β=-0.314, p<0.05). When further adjustment was made for total activity, moderate activity was associated with waist-height ratio (β=-0.538, p<0.05), waist circumference (β=-0.518, p<0.05), systolic blood pressure (β=-0.592, p<0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (β=-0.636, p<0.05). Sedentary activity was not associated with any risk factor. The findings provide evidence that relatively young adults with CP participate in reduced levels of MVPA and spend increased time in sedentary behavior, potentially increasing their risk of developing cardiometabolic disease.

Exercise interventions commenced in the early survivorship phase appear safe, feasible and may lead to improvements in QOL and fatigue.

This study highlighted the unchanging sedentary behaviour and weight gain of breast cancer survivors during the first year after completion of chemotherapy, which may inform rehabilitation models in this population.

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PA levels were low, but PS scoring reflected relative PA levels and differentiated between patients of PS 0 and 2-3. Chronological age was not predictive of activity levels, but older patients were assigned lower PS scores. Incorporation of objective PA measures may merit further investigation especially in the geriatric oncology setting.