Bristol researchers are looking for breast cancer patients to take part in an e-bike study. Researchers from Bristol’s Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences will look at whether a 12-week individualised e-bike programme is suitable for people with or who have been treated for breast cancer, and if they can finish the programme.
Funded by Cancer Research UK, it will also look at whether e-bike riding can have a positive impact on health outcomes, including participants’ fitness and quality of life.
Training will be provided on how to ride the e-bike, and how to ride on roads. Additional support will be provided to help overcome some of the challenges to becoming more active faced by people with cancer or who have had cancer.
Dr Miranda Armstrong, senior lecturer in physical activity in adults, and chief investigator for the study at the University of Bristol, said: “Cycling is an activity that can be built into someone’s day but for many people cycling is very hard work and the idea of cycling around a hilly city like Bristol is off-putting.
“Being physically active is very important for people's physical and mental health. However, it can be difficult to be physically active on a regular basis. Many people start off with good intentions but find they don’t have time, they don’t have the right equipment, or it is difficult or too expensive to go to a gym regularly.
“Our research wants to find out if e-bikes could be a fun and easy way for people with or who have had breast cancer to be more active and offer a healthy alternative to using the car for short journeys.”
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Participants will have three visits to the NIHR Bristol Clinical Research Facility to have blood taken, along with weight, height and waist circumference measurements, as well as a short exercise test and questionnaire. They will also be asked to wear an activity monitor and GPS monitor and keep a travel diary for seven days.
The study is now recruiting 20 people aged 18 or over through the Bristol Breast Care Centre at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and Penny Brohn.
Participants will be lent an e-bike and bike accessories for the duration of the 12-week programme. The study will then provide information on community-based e-bike schemes or information on where to purchase an e-bike.
For more information about the study, entitled ‘Increasing physical activity levels using e-bikes to enhance breast cancer survival: A feasibility study (CRANK B)’, email crank-study@bristol.ac.uk.
