Here's the abstract for a very interesting study. They had breast cancer survivors exercise for 8 weeks either in the hydrotherapy pool or on land. The results aren't really surprising, but good to see evidence to support the ideas: In the water, breast cancer survivors have a chance to loosen up their shoulders without having to work about over-straining, but it just doesn't have quite the oomph needed to help with things like body composition. The pool's a great place to build up a base fitness, but eventually you've got to come out and start putting in the hard yards.

Support Care Cancer. 2012 Aug 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Water versus land-based multimodal exercise program effects on body composition in breast cancer survivors: a controlled clinical trial.

Fernández-Lao C, Cantarero-Villanueva I, Ariza-Garcia A, Courtney C, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Arroyo-Morales M.

Source

Department of Physical Therapy, Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad de Granada, Avenida de Madrid s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain.

Abstract

GOALS OF WORK:

Our aim was to compare the effects of land versus water multimodal exercise programs on body composition and breast cancer-specific quality of life in breast cancer survivors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Ninety-eight breast cancer survivors were assigned to three groups: control, land exercise, and water exercise. Both exercise groups participated in an 8-week multimodal program. Adiposity was measured by anthropometry (body mass index, waist circumference) and bioelectrical impedance (body fat and muscle lean body mass). Incidence of clinically significant secondary lymphedema was also assessed. Finally, specific quality of life was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life BR-23.

MAIN RESULTS:

Using ANCOVA, significant group × time interactions for body fat percentage (F = 3.376; P = 0.011) and lean body mass (F = 3.566; P = 0.008) were found. Breast cancer survivors in the land exercise group exhibited a greater decrease in percentage of body fat than those in the water exercise (P < 0.001) and control (P = 0.002) groups. The ANCOVA revealed a significant group × time interaction for waist circumference (F = 4.553; P = 0.002): breast cancer survivors in the control group showed a greater waist circumference when compared to water (P = 0.003) and land (P < 0.001) exercise groups. A significant group × time interaction was also found for breast symptoms (F = 9.048; P < 0.001): participants in the water exercise group experienced a greater decrease of breast symptoms than those in the land exercise (P < 0.01) and control (P < 0.05) groups.

CONCLUSION:

Land exercise produced a greater decrease in body fat and an increase in lean body mass, whereas water exercise was better for improving breast symptoms.