Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
Improving Quality of Life Through Supervised Exercise in Oncology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of
Arturo Cano-Uceda1,2, Luis De Sousa-De Sousa1, Rebeca Bueno-Fermoso1
1Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Background: Cancer treatments often reduce quality of life (QoL), and non-pharmacological options are limited. Supervised exercise shows promise, but its effectiveness across exercise types and patient subgroups is unclear. Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of supervised exercise on QoL in breast and prostate cancer patients, considering exercise type, duration, and patient characteristics. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis including 26 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and approximately 3500 participants was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, SciELO, Cochrane, and Scopus were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2014 and 2024. Eligible studies involved adults with breast or prostate cancer undergoing supervised exercise versus usual care or unsupervised activity. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool, methodological quality with the PEDro scale, and certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach. Results: Supervised exercise was associated with significant improvements in QoL (SMD = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.22-0.70; p < 0.001), with considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 91.5%). Combined programs had the greatest effect (SMD = 0.77), followed by high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (SMD = 0.30). Shorter interventions (≤12 weeks) yielded larger improvements. Effects were more consistent in women with breast cancer. Overall, the certainty of the evidence was low. Conclusions: Supervised therapeutic exercise is associated with significant improvements in QoL in breast and prostate cancer patients. Combined and well-structured programs, particularly of short duration, appear especially beneficial. These findings support the integration of supervised exercise into standard oncological care. Further research should explore long-term sustainability and optimize interventions for specific patient profiles.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
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...
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...