Nausea is a common symptoms contributing to disability in women with breast cancer on chemotherapy. The framework for this study is based on a disability/rehabilitation model. Subjects (n = 42) were randomized to an experimental exercise (EG, n = 16) a placebo (PG, n = 14), or a control (CG, n = 12) group. The dependent variable, nausea, was measured by an item on the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) somatization subscale (SOM) pre- and post-treatment. The independent variable consisted of a 10-week, three times a week supervised, aerobic training protocol on a cycle ergometer using an exercise prescription derived from a symptom-limited, graded exercise test. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, Duncan's Multiple Range Test, and the Chi-square test (p < 0.05). The EG subjects demonstrated a marked improvement in nausea compares to the PG and CG. In addition, EG subjects showed a significant improvement in SOM scores compared to the PG and CG, indicating improvement in perceptions of autonomically mediated symptoms. Nursing implications from this study suggest that moderate aerobic activity may be beneficial as an adjunctive self-care measure to anti-emetic therapy in controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and in promoting physical well-being.

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