A new paradigm for examining the correlates of aerobic, strength, and combined exercise: an application to gynecologic cancer survivors

Purpose: Almost all exercise guidelines recommend both aerobic and strength exercise, however, few studies have simultaneously examined the correlates of meeting both exercise guidelines. Here, we propose a new paradigm that calls on researchers to examine not only the correlates of meeting the various exercise guidelines versus no guideline but also the correlates of meeting the combined guidelines versus one guideline and meeting one guideline versus the other guideline. Methods: A random sample of 621 gynecologic cancer survivors located in Alberta, Canada, completed a mailed questionnaire. Results: A multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that (a) meeting only the aerobic exercise guideline compared to neither guideline was associated with younger age, social drinking, healthy weight, better general health, and no comorbidities; (b) meeting only the strength exercise guideline compared to neither guideline was associated with social drinking and being healthy weight; (c) meeting the combined exercise guideline compared to neither guideline was associated with social drinking, being healthy weight, and better general health; (d) meeting the aerobic guideline only compared to the strength guideline only was associated with younger age and better general health; and (e) few correlates distinguished between meeting the combined guidelines compared to a single guideline. Conclusions: Demographic and health variables are associated with meeting the various exercise guidelines versus no guideline but they are not associated with meeting the combined exercise guidelines versus a single guideline or meeting one guideline versus the other guideline. Application of this new paradigm to cancer survivors is encouraged.