Exercise Training in Elderly Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.
Francesco Giallauria1,2, Crescenzo Testa3, Gianluigi Cuomo1
1Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Cancers
|March 29, 2023
Summary
Physical exercise programs can help elderly cancer patients maintain functional capacity, improve quality of life, and reduce mortality. This approach supports decentralized care and rehabilitation before or after cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Oncology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Cancer Survivorship
Background:
- A significant majority of cancer diagnoses occur in geriatric patients.
- Functional status, disability, and quality of life are critical outcomes in elderly cancer care, beyond mortality and morbidity.
- Preserving functional status can halt or reverse the progression towards disability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the effectiveness of physical exercise interventions for elderly cancer patients.
- To evaluate the impact of exercise on preventing disability and enhancing quality of life.
- To assess exercise's role in reducing all-cause mortality in this population.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature.
- Focus on physical exercise as part of a holistic patient assessment.
- Inclusion of studies examining outcomes in elderly cancer patients.
Main Results:
- Physical exercise demonstrates effectiveness in preventing disability.
- Exercise interventions improve the quality of life for elderly cancer patients.
- A potential partial reduction in all-cause mortality was observed.
Conclusions:
- Physical exercise is a valuable component of care for geriatric cancer patients.
- Evidence supports the decentralization of care and implementation of rehabilitation programs.
- Rehabilitation programs should be integrated before or after anti-cancer therapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
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Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
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01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
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Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Endurance exercises
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01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
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Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
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01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
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