Effects and moderators of exercise on muscle strength, muscle function and aerobic fitness in patients with cancer: A meta-analysis of individual patient data
Authors/Creators
- Maike G. Sweegers
- Teatske M. Altenburg
- Johannes Brug
- Anne M. May
- Jonna K. van Vulpen
- Neil K. Aaronson
- Gill Arbane
- Martin Bohus
- Kerry S. Courneya
- Amanda J. Daley
- Daniel A. Galvao, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
- Rachel Garrod
- Kathleen A. Griffith
- Wim H. Van Harten
- Sandra C. Hayes
- Fernando Herrero-Román
- Marie J. Kersten
- Alejandro Lucia
- Alex McConnachie
- Willem van Mechelen
- Nanette Mutrie
- Robert U. Newton, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
- Frans Nollet
- Karin Potthoff
- Martina E. Schmidt
- Kathryn H. Schmitz
- Karl Heinz Schulz
- Gabe Sonke
- Karen Steindorf
- Martijn M. Stuiver
- Dennis R. Taaffe, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
- Lene Thorsen
- Jos W. Twisk
- Miranda J. Velthuis
- Jennifer Wenzel
- Kerri M. Winters-Stone
- Joachim Wiskemann
- Mai J. Chin A Paw
- Laurien M. Buffart, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To optimally target exercise interventions for patients with cancer, it is important to identify which patients benefit from which interventions.
DESIGN: We conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis to investigate demographic, clinical, intervention-related and exercise-related moderators of exercise intervention effects on physical fitness in patients with cancer.
DATA SOURCES: We identified relevant studies via systematic searches in electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL).
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We analysed data from 28 randomised controlled trials investigating the effects of exercise on upper body muscle strength (UBMS) and lower body muscle strength (LBMS), lower body muscle function (LBMF) and aerobic fitness in adult patients with cancer.
RESULTS: Exercise significantly improved UBMS (β=0.20, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.14 to 0.26), LBMS (β=0.29, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.35), LBMF (β=0.16, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.24) and aerobic fitness (β=0.28, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.34), with larger effects for supervised interventions. Exercise effects on UBMS were larger during treatment, when supervised interventions included ≥3 sessions per week, when resistance exercises were included and when session duration was >60 min. Exercise effects on LBMS were larger for patients who were living alone, for supervised interventions including resistance exercise and when session duration was >60 min. Exercise effects on aerobic fitness were larger for younger patients and when supervised interventions included aerobic exercise.
CONCLUSION: Exercise interventions during and following cancer treatment had small effects on UBMS, LBMS, LBMF and aerobic fitness. Demographic, intervention-related and exercise-related characteristics including age, marital status, intervention timing, delivery mode and frequency and type and time of exercise sessions moderated the exercise effect on UBMS, LBMS and aerobic fitness.
Keywords
exercise, meta-analysis, oncology, physical activity, physical fitness, adult, aerobic exercise, article, cancer therapy, Cinahl, controlled study, Embase, female, human, male, marriage, Medline, meta analysis, muscle function, muscle strength, oncology, patient coding, physical activity, PsycINFO, randomized controlled trial (topic), resistance training, systematic review
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
7-1-2019
ISSN
1473-0480
Volume
53
Issue
13
PubMed ID
30181323
Publication Title
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
29099
Copyright
free_to_read
First Page
812
Last Page
812
Comments
Sweegers, M. G., Altenburg, T. M., Brug, J., May, A. M., Van Vulpen, J. K., Aaronson, N. K., ... Buffart, L. M. (2019). Effects and moderators of exercise on muscle strength, muscle function and aerobic fitness in patients with cancer: A meta-analysis of individual patient data. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(13), Article 812. Available here