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Exercise interventions for adults with cancer receiving radiation therapy alone

Trommer M, Marnitz S, Skoetz N, Rupp R, Niels T, Morgenthaler J, Theurich S, von Bergwelt-Baildon M et al.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2023

130 participants · 17 citations

Abstract

Background: Radiation therapy (RT) is given to about half of all people with cancer. RT alone is used to treat various cancers at different stages. Although it is a local treatment, systemic symptoms may occur. Cancer- or treatment-related side effects can lead to a reduction in physical activity, physical performance, and quality of life (QoL). The literature suggests that physical exercise can reduce the risk of various side effects of cancer and cancer treatments, cancer-specific mortality, recurrence of cancer, and all-cause mortality.

Objectives: To evaluate the benefits and harms of exercise plus standard care compared with standard care alone in adults with cancer receiving RT alone.

Search methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL, conference proceedings and trial registries up to 26 October 2022.

Selection criteria: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that enrolled people who were receiving RT without adjuvant systemic treatment for any type or stage of cancer. We considered any type of exercise intervention, defined as a planned, structured, repetitive, objective-oriented physical activity programme in addition to standard care. We excluded exercise interventions that involved physiotherapy alone, relaxation programmes, and multimodal approaches that combined exercise with other non-standard interventions such as nutritional restriction.

Data collection and analysis: We used standard Cochrane methodology and the GRADE approach…

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