Progressive Resistance Training as Intervention for Regaining Muscle Mass After Radiation Therapy in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Maximal muscle strength [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Isometric and isokinetic muscle dynamometry
• Maximal gait speed [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  10 m walk time
• Patient reported outcomes [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Questionaires on Quality of Life, Fatigue and Mood
• Blood sampling [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Investigation of changes in serum level of markers related to weigth loss, inflammation and muscle hypertrophy
• 30 s arm curl capacity [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Stair climbing capacity [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Jumping capacity [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Counter Movement Jumps
• Chair rise capacity [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  30 s chair rise

• Maximal muscle strength [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Isometric and isokinetic muscle dynamometry
• Maximal gait speed [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  10 m walk time
• Patient reported outcomes [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Questionaires on Quality of Life, Fatigue and Mood
• Blood sampling [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Investigation of changes in serum level of markers related to weigth loss, inflammation and muscle hypertrophy
• 30 s arm curl capacity [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Stair climbing capacity [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Jumping capacity [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Counter Movement Jumps
• Chair rise capacity [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  30 s chair rise

Head and neck cancer patients often experience a critical weight loss of around 10% following radiation therapy. Of this up to 70% is muscle mass and is an independent predictor of mortality, lowers muscle strength and functional performance. The purpose of this study is in a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of progressive resistance training (PRET) on changes in muscle mass, muscle strength and functional performance in head and neck cancer survivors. The investigators hypothesize that PRET has a positive effect on all primary endpoints and increases muscle mass, muscle strength and functional performance.

• Other: Progressive Resistance Exercise Training
  12 weeks of Progressive Resistance Exercise Training followed by 12 weeks of self chosen training
• Other: Progressive Resistance Exercise Training
  12 weeks of self chosen training followed by 12 weeks of progressive resistance exercise training

• Experimental: Early training patient
  12 weeks of Progressive Resistance Training followed by 12 weeks of a self chosen level of physical activity
  Intervention: Other: Progressive Resistance Exercise Training
• Experimental: Late training patients
  12 weeks of a self chosen level of physical activity followed by 12 weeks of progressive resistance training
  Intervention: Other: Progressive Resistance Exercise Training

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically diagnosed with squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx (no glottis stage I+II), pharynx, oral cavity or in lymph nodes from an unknown primary tumour (stage I-IV and tumour node metastasis (TNM) classification, UICC, Geneva, 1987)
• Terminated curative radiotherapy treatment with/without chemotherapy;
• No metastases
• Complete tumour remission
• No current or previous malignancies that could prevent participation and training
• No excessive alcohol intake (men > 21 and women > 14 units/wk)
• No recent systematic resistance training or creatine ingestion (within 2 months)
• If woman, not pregnant
• WHO performance status of 0-1
• No psychological, social or geographical conditions that could disturb participation
• Written consent