Biomechanical effect of neurologic dance training (NDT) for breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial and preliminary baseline data

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Kristen Lantis, The Ohio State University; Patrick Schnell, The Ohio State University; Courtney R. Bland, The Ohio State University; Jacqueline Wilder, The Ohio State University; Karen Hock, The Ohio State University; Craig Vargo, The Ohio State University; Nelson A. Glover, George Mason University; Madeleine E. Hackney, Emory University; Maryam B. Lustberg, Yale Cancer Center; Lise Worthen-Chaudhari, The Ohio State University
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-09-01
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2023
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): https://doi.org/10.1186%2Fs13063-023-07554-z
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Trials
• Volume: 24
• Start Page: 564
• Grant/Funding Information: This project receives funding from the Department of Health and Human Services by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The federal award project title is Novel Interventions for Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy, Award number 1R21AG068831-01A1.; This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, grant R21-AG06881. We acknowledge funding or other support from the following sources: R03-CA182165; OSU Cancer Control; JamesCare for Life; OSU Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Grant UL1TR001070.
• Keywords: biomechanics; chemotherapy-induced neuropathy; music; oncology; neurorehabilitation; dance
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Oncology

Abstract

Background Breast cancer (BC) is among the most common forms of cancer experienced by women. Up to 80% of BC survivors treated with chemotherapy experience chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN), which degrades motor control, sensory function, and quality of life. CIN symptoms include numbness, tingling, and/or burning sensations in the extremities; deficits in neuromotor control; and increased fall risk. Physical activity (PA) and music-based medicine (MBM) are promising avenues to address sensorimotor symptoms. Therefore, we propose that we can combine the effects of music- and PA-based medicine through neurologic dance training (NDT) through partnered Adapted Tango (NDT-Tango). We will assess the intervention effect of NDT-Tango v. home exercise (HEX) intervention on biomechanically-measured variables. We hypothesize that 8 weeks of NDT-Tango practice will improve the dynamics of posture and gait more than 8 weeks of HEX. Methods In a single-center, prospective, two-arm randomized controlled clinical trial, participants are randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to the NDT-Tango experimental or the HEX active control intervention group. Primary endpoints are change from baseline to after intervention in posture and gait. Outcomes are collected at baseline, midpoint, post, 1-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up. Secondary and tertiary outcomes include clinical and biomechanical tests of function and questionnaires used to compliment primary outcome measures. Linear mixed models will be used to model changes in postural, biomechanical, and PROs. The primary estimand will be the contrast representing the difference in mean change in outcome measure from baseline to week 8 between treatment groups. Discussion The scientific premise of this study is that NDT-Tango stands to achieve more gains than PA practice alone through combining PA with MBM and social engagement. Our findings may lead to a safe non-pharmacologic intervention that improves CIN-related deficits. Trial registration This trial was first posted on 11/09/21 at ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT05114005.