Cited by 146Cancer survivorship and careCancer-related cognitive impairment studiesPhysical Activity and Health

Supervised exercise reduces cancer-related fatigue: a systematic review

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Meneses-Echávez, José F, González-Jiménez, Emilio, Ramírez-Vélez, Robinson·2015·Journal of Physiotherapy

Abstract

QUESTION: Does supervised physical activity reduce cancer-related fatigue? DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised trials. PARTICIPANTS: People diagnosed with any type of cancer, without restriction to a particular stage of diagnosis or treatment. INTERVENTION: Supervised physical activity interventions (eg, aerobic, resistance and stretching exercise), defined as any planned or structured body movement causing an increase in energy expenditure, designed to maintain or enhance health-related outcomes, and performed with systematic frequency, intensity and duration. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was fatigue. Secondary outcomes were physical and functional wellbeing assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Fatigue Scale, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life QUESTIONnaire, Piper Fatigue Scale, Schwartz Cancer Fatigue Scale and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Methodological quality, including risk of bias of the studies, was evaluated using the PEDro Scale. RESULTS: Eleven studies involving 1530 participants were included in the review. The assessment of quality showed a mean score of 6.5 (SD 1.1), indicating a low overall risk of bias. The pooled effect on fatigue, calculated as a standardised mean difference (SMD) using a random-effects model, was -1.69 (95% CI -2.99 to -0.39). Beneficial reductions in fatigue were also found with combined aerobic and resistance training with supervision (SMD=-0.41, 95% CI -0.70 to -0.13) and with combined aerobic, resistance and stretching training with supervision (SMD=-0.67, 95% CI -1.17 to -0.17). CONCLUSION: Supervised physical activity interventions reduce cancer-related fatigue. These findings suggest that combined aerobic and resistance exercise regimens with or without stretching should be included as part of rehabilitation programs for people who have been diagnosed with cancer. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42013005803.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jphys.2014.08.019

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Authors
Meneses-Echávez, J. F., González-Jiménez, E., & Ramírez-Vélez, R.
Venue
Journal of Physiotherapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-01
Volume
61
Issue
1
Pages
3-9
ISSN
1836-9553 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1966643605
Cited by
146
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 7 · 2013: 1
FWCI
1.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of physiotherapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Institutional Repository of the University of Granada (University of Granada) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords
cancer-related fatigue, supervised exercise, physical activity interventions, aerobic exercise, resistance training, stretching, concurrent training, cancer rehabilitation, quality of life, functional well-being
MeSH terms
Exercise Therapy, Fatigue, Female, Humans, Male, Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome

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