Exercise as a Therapeutic Strategy to Mitigate Cancer Treatment Side Effects, New Review Finds

Recent research underscores the potential of physical activity in alleviating adverse effects associated with cancer treatments. An extensive umbrella review, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed data from 80 high-quality studies involving 485 associations to evaluate how various forms of exercise impact health outcomes in cancer patients.

The review reveals that engaging in exercise, including mind-body practices like tai chi, Qigong, and yoga, as well as aerobic, resistance, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), can significantly reduce treatment-related side effects. These include heart and nerve damage from chemotherapy, cognitive issues like brain fog, and breathing difficulties. Moreover, exercise was found to improve body composition, modulate key physiological markers such as insulin and inflammatory proteins, enhance sleep quality, boost psychological well-being, and elevate overall quality of life.

Importantly, preoperative exercise regimens were associated with lower risks of postoperative complications, pain, longer hospital stays, and even mortality. The review emphasizes that exercise benefits extend across a broad range of cancers, including breast, lung, digestive, blood, and prostate cancers.

Despite some limitations due to variability among studies, the findings support incorporating tailored exercise programs into cancer care plans. The researchers advocate for future high-quality studies to better understand optimal exercise prescriptions tailored to cancer type, treatment stage, individual characteristics, and specific health outcomes.

Overall, the evidence strongly suggests that physical activity serves as a valuable adjunct to medical treatments, improving physical and psychological health and potentially enhancing treatment efficacy in cancer patients.