Effect of Physical Activity on Physical and Mental Health in Young Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Systematic Review of RCTs and CCTs
Abstract
Introduction Young cancer patients (YCP) face high risks of acute and long-term physical and mental health effects resulting from their malignancy and its treatment (Benzing et al., 2022; Siegwart et al., 2020). Physical activity (PA) is increasingly recognized as a strategy to address physical, mental, cognitive, and social challenges faced by YCP and survivors (Braam et al., 2016). This systematic review aimed to summarize findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical control trials (CCTs) evaluating the impact of PA interventions on physical and mental health outcomes in YCP and survivors.
Methods A systematic search was conducted in APA PsycINFO, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus. We examined RCTs and CCTs investigating PA interventions in children and adolescents with cancer, during or after treatment, that reported outcomes related to physical or mental health and/or quality of life. Two authors independently screened studies for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias.
Results Of 1,164 articles screened, 32 RCTs and CCTs met eligibility criteria, involving 1,315 participants aged 4–19 years. Studies included inpatients (18), survivors (11), or both (2). Chronic PA interventions, such as aerobic, resistance, or combined motor-cognitive training, were implemented. All studies reported physical health outcomes, primarily focusing on cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and fatigue, while 18 studies assessed…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,315 participants or records.
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