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. 2024 Dec;130(8):1725-1736.
doi: 10.1002/jso.27845. Epub 2024 Oct 23.

Exercise During Chemotherapy for Cancer: A Systematic Review

R C Walker  1   2 , P Pezeshki  1   3 , S Barman  1   4 , S Ngan  1 , G Whyte  5 , J Lagergren  6 , J Gossage  1   4 , M Kelly  1 , C Baker  1 , W Knight  1 , M A West  2   7 , A R Davies  1 ; Guy's & St Thomas' Oesophago‐gastric Research Group
Affiliations

Exercise During Chemotherapy for Cancer: A Systematic Review

R C Walker et al. J Surg Oncol. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Exercise prehabilitation may improve the tolerance and effectiveness of anticancer treatments such as chemotherapy. This systematic review assesses the impact of exercise on chemotherapy outcomes and identifies research priorities. Nineteen studies (1418 patients) were reviewed, including 11 randomised controlled trials and eight observational studies. Exercise led to improvements in body composition, fitness, strength and quality of life (QoL) across studies. Exercise can be safely and effectively delivered during chemotherapy. Limited standardisation and small sample sizes highlight the need for larger, better-designed studies to optimise this low-cost intervention.

Keywords: chemotherapy; exercise prehabilitation; neoadjuvant therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prisma flow diagram, 705 records were screened by two reviewers and 19 studies included in the final review.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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