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Table 1 EFFECT exercise protocol

From: Design of a multinational randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of structured and individualized exercise in patients with metastatic breast cancer on fatigue and quality of life: the EFFECT study

Week

Aerobic training (15 min)

Resistance training (35 min)

1–3

15 min MICT at 50–60% of Wpeak

Six exercises. Three sets per exerciseb. The intensity is periodized, alternating between 10 and 12 reps with 70–75% of h1RM and 6 and 8 reps with 80–85% of h1RM every month.

4–14

Interval traininga: 8 × 1 min at Wpeak, alternated with 1 min active rest at 30 Watts

15–25

Interval traininga: 3 × 3 min at 70% of Wpeak, alternated with 2 min active rest at 30 Watts

26–36

Interval traininga: 8 × 30 s at 65% of MSEC, alternated with 1 min active rest at 30% of MSEC

  1. MICT Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training, MSEC Maximal Short Exercise Capacity, h1RM hypothetical 1- Repetition Maximum
  2. aAll interval sessions start with a 3-minute warm-up at 30 Watts and conclude with a 3-minute cool-down
  3. bMain exercises include the leg press, leg curl, leg extension, chest press, seated row, lat pulldown. Variations of these exercises are allowed and depend on the exercise modality