Strength and Power Training Enhances Treatment in Prostate Cancer Patients

"Sport is life." A phrase often heard from sports coaching gurus, but also supported by medical science. Following this line, a group of researchers from the Department of General Didactics and Specific Didactics (Physical Education and Sports area) at the University of Alicante (UA), in collaboration with the Urology Service of the General University Hospital Doctor Balmis, has launched a pioneering project to evaluate the effects of strength-power training in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy.

The study is led by UA professors and researchers Juan Tortosa Martínez, Sergio Sebastiá Amat, Gema Sanchís Soler, and Sergio Sellés Pérez, all from the Department of General Didactics and Specific Didactics (Physical Education and Sports area). Additionally, Jalila El Klahi Salmoun, a PhD student in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, and Mar Marco, a student of the Degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences at UA, are participating.

Dr. Silvia Chillón Sempere, a urologist and researcher at the General University Hospital Doctor Balmis, plays a key role in recruiting patients, informing them about the study, and referring them to the UA team if they meet the inclusion criteria.

Once selected, participants complete questionnaires and physical tests to assess their strength, power, cardiovascular endurance, gait, and balance. Subsequently, they begin a 24-week program with two weekly sessions of 60 minutes at the UA sports facilities, designed to improve their physical condition and quality of life.

This work will not only serve as the basis for a doctoral thesis but will also contribute to expanding knowledge about the benefits of exercise in cancer patients. Additionally, the UA Sports Service will offer participants the opportunity to continue with a supervised training program once the study is completed, thus promoting exercise adherence and long-term well-being.