EVALUATION COMMITTEE

The Faculty Council has appointed the following adjudication committee to evaluate the thesis and the associated lecture: 

• Prof. PhD, Jo Nijs, Vrije University.
• Prof.  Jonathan Folland, Loughborough University.
• Dr. Saba Gervasio, HST, Aalborg University (Chairman).

Moderator:
Prof. Pascal Madeleine, HST, Aalborg University, Denmark

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

The Ph.D. Defense is organized as a hybrid event you can participate digitally via Zoom or physical presence. 

Please click here to participate via Zoom.

Meeting ID: 681 3757 9422

ABSTRACT

Persistent pain after treatment for breast cancer is a common problem with a complex and poorly understood aetiology. Consequently, there is a lack of effective treatment options available for breast cancer survivors. Resistance training is a promising tool to combat a variety of adverse effects to breast cancer treatment that may provide pain-relieving benefits. Investigating the effects of resistance training on persistent pain after breast cancer treatment could elucidate further on the efficiency of resistance training as a clinical therapeutic tool for pain management.

The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the short- and long-term effect of resistance training on persistent pain occurring more than 1.5 years after breast cancer treatment through a series of four studies. In study I, the absolute and relative reliability of the experimental assessments employed to measure mechanical pain sensitivity, active range of motion and maximal strength in Study II-IV were assessed and found to range from substantial to excellent, confirming the used experimental assessments would be suitable. Study II was a case-control study that examined the effects of persistent pain on shoulder function. A significant decrease in pressure pain thresholds and shoulder function were found, highlighting that hyperalgesia and shoulder impairment are long lasting adverse effects. Study III aimed to investigate the acute effects of strength training on pain sensitivity and revealed an analgesic response in the ventral region, underlining that resistance training could provide a transient analgesic effect. Study IV was a randomized controlled study demonstrating a significant decrease in pain sensitivity, but not pain intensity, following a 12-week RT program.

In summary, the present thesis indicated that common methods for assessing pain, active range of motion and muscular strength can be used reliably in the target population. Furthermore, women with self-reported pain after treatment for breast cancer demonstrate significant reductions in pain thresholds and shoulder function well beyond 1.5 years after treatment. Importantly, resistance training can decrease mechanical pain sensitivity following both acute and prolonged exposure but may not have meaningful effects on self-reported pain intensity.