Exercise helps reduce the side effects of cancer treatment

Exercise helps reduce the side effects of cancer treatment

Exercise can counteract the adverse effects of cancer treatment, such as heart and nerve damage and brain fog, according to a comprehensive review of existing pooled data analysis of the latest research published online in theBritish Journal of Sports Medicine.

Exercise also appears to improve psychological well-being and overall quality of life, adding weight to its routine inclusion in treatment protocols for the disease, the researchers say.

Several pooled data analyzes of available research have evaluated the effects of exercise on health outcomes in people with cancer. However, researchers continue to explain significant gaps in our understanding.

To date, no comprehensive assessment of the results of existing pooled data analyzes on exercise and health outcomes in people with a wide range of cancers has been published, they add.

To address this gap to strengthen the evidence base and inform clinical care, researchers conducted a review of existing pooled data analyzes of randomized controlled trial results published between 2012 and July 2024.

The review included 485 associations from 80 articles, all rated as being of moderate to high quality.

These associations included types of exercise of any length, intensity, and duration (138, 28.5%) such as qigong, tai chi, and yoga; aerobic and resistance exercise (48.10%), high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (18.4%); and other types (281.59%).

These associations were examined in people with cancers of the breast (244, 50%), digestive system (20.4%), blood (13, 3%), lung (47.10%), prostate (12, 2.5%) plus others (149, 31%).

Overall, 260 (54%) associations were statistically significant, and 81 (17%) and 152 (31%) were supported by high and moderate certainty, respectively, according to class criteria that assess the certainty of scientific evidence and the strength of recommendations in health care.

Exercise significantly reduced various side effects associated with cancer and its treatment compared to usual care or no exercise. For example, it reduced chemotherapy-related brain fog (cognitive impairment) and shortness of breath (cognitive impairment) and cognitively impaired nerve damage (dyspnea).

It also altered body composition and key physiological indicators of health, such as insulin, insulin-like growth factor and C-reactive protein in cancer. And it improved sleep quality, psychological well-being, normal functioning of the body and social interaction while increasing the overall quality of life.

There was evidence of high to moderate certainty that preoperative exercise reduced the risk of postoperative complications, pain, length of hospital stay, and risk of death.

The researchers acknowledge several limitations to their findings. The pooled data analyzes included in the review varied significantly, including the number of studies from which they were drawn differently.

Participants with cancer who were able to exercise may also have been healthier, the researchers said. And side effects of treatment vary depending on the type of cancer and how advanced the disease is, they point out.

However, they conclude: "Incorporating mind-body exercises into exercise guidelines for people with cancer may be a valuable consideration. Future high-quality research is needed to investigate additional outcomes, clarify underlying mechanisms, and refine exercise prescriptions tailored to cancer type, timing of treatment, exercise modality, and individual characteristics."

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