C.A.P.A.B.L.E. (CrossFit® and Physical Activity: A Better Life Experience)

Does High-Intensity Functional Training Improve Patient Movement and Quality of Life? A Study of CrossFit® in Cancer Survivors

This study will introduce cancer survivors to cross-training with the expectation that the program proposed will ultimately result in superior improvements in functional performance, body composition and quality of life compared with the current American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines for cancer survivors.

A 12-week pilot intervention study introducing a high-intensity functional training program to 100 cancer survivors and evaluate the effects of this program on patient quality of life, functional capacity, and body composition. Response rates will be determined using various recruitment methods and estimate differences in response rates by patient characteristics including race, gender and age. Barriers to participation in the program in contacted patients who do not enroll as well as patients who enroll and do not complete the program will be described, as will participant satisfaction with enrolled participants who complete the program. The goal of this pilot study is to help refine the recruitment and program methods for a larger intervention study to test the superiority of a high-intensity interval functional training program compared with current American Cancer Society guidelines in improving functional capacity, body composition and patient reported quality of life.

Surveys will be completed by each participant weekly and physical assessments will be completed monthly.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18 years or older at time of program recruitment
• Diagnosed with any cancer
• Cleared from their physician to participate in the program (We assume that most patients will have completed treatment, however if a patient is currently under treatment, this should be their oncologist. If the patient is not currently undergoing treatment, this could be primary care physician or oncologist).
• Available transportation to and from the facility on session days

Exclusion Criteria

• Widely metastatic cancers to the brain or bone may be excluded.
• Patients using mobility assistance devices may be excluded. Exclusionary criteria will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and patients with these limitations may be included with approval from Dr. Beebe-Dimmer and the referring physician.