The Use of Novel Instrumented Socks to Detect Changes in Daily Life Mobility During an Exercise Intervention in Prostate Cancer Survivors Treated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy.

The analysis included only 35 participants, and the paper says small sample size limited the ability to see differences in daily life mobility changes between exercise groups. The sock-measured mobility measures did not change significantly in any exercise group, so the 40% responder rate is an exploratory finding. Responders were defined by any increase in cadence, any decrease in double support proportion, and any increase in pitch angle, with improvement on at least two measures, and no clinically meaningful change thresholds were established. Participants were pooled across stretching, strength training, and tai chi to identify responders, so this analysis cannot show which exercise type produced improvement. The exercise programs were designed to prevent falls, not specifically to improve daily life mobility, and the sample was not selected for low functioning. Attrition made the number of participants in each exercise group unequal. The sample was mostly non-Hispanic white, overweight, and non-metastatic, so it may not represent all prostate cancer survivors on ADT. Two authors were employed by the company that makes the instrumented socks, which has a commercial interest in the technology.

The supplied metadata lists NIH extramural research support. Two authors are employed by APDM Wearable Technologies, a Clario company, which has a commercial interest in the results of this research and the technology.

Do not read the 40% responder rate as proof that exercise improves daily life mobility in prostate cancer survivors on ADT. The sock-measured mobility measures did not change significantly in any exercise group, and responder status was an exploratory pooled classification.