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PurposeThe aim of the present meta-analysis was to quantify effects of resistance exercise (RE) on physical performance and function, body composition, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and fatigue in patients with prostate cancer.MethodsTrial data were obtained from the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Library as of inception to 31st of December 2016. Thirty-two trials with 1199 patients were included. Results that were measured by using the same assessment method in five or more of the original studies were pooled in a meta-analysis.ResultsPooled studies showed significant improvements of muscular strength in the upper and lower body (95% CI [2.52, 7.97] kg; p < 0.001 and 95% CI [10.51, 45.88] kg; p = 0.008, respectively) after RE. Furthermore, significant improvements were seen for body composition (body fat percentage 95% CI [−0.79, −0.53] %; p < 0.001; lean body mass 95% CI [0.15, 1.84] %; p = 0.028; trunk fat mass 95% CI [−0.73, −0.08] kg; p = 0.024). Additionally, the improvement of the 400-m walk time was significant (95% CI [−21.55, −14.65] s; p < 0.001). Concerning fatigue and HRQoL, there were not sufficient data for analysis.ConclusionsRE seems to be a promising approach in order to counteract loss of muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in patients suffering from prostate cancer and its treatment-related side effects. RE should play part in interdisciplinary cancer rehabilitation and care of this patient group. Nevertheless, further research should investigate RE further to determine which protocols are the most pragmatic, yet yielding best patient outcomes.

Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) amplifies the electrical activity of nerves at the stump of amputees by redirecting them in remnant muscles above the amputation. The electrical activity of the reinnervated muscles can be used to extract natural control signals. Nonetheless, current control systems, mainly based on noninvasive muscle recordings, fail to provide accurate and reliable control over time. This is one of the major reasons for prosthetic abandonment. This prospective interventional study includes three unilateral above-elbow amputees and reports the long-term (2.5 years) implant of wireless myoelectric sensors in the reinnervation sites after TMR and their use for control of robotic arms in daily life. It therefore demonstrates the clinical viability of chronically implanted myoelectric interfaces that amplify nerve activity through TMR. The patients showed substantial functional improvements using the implanted system compared with control based on surface electrodes. The combination of TMR and chronically implanted sensors may drastically improve robotic limb replacement in above-elbow amputees.

Missing an upper limb dramatically impairs daily-life activities. Efforts in overcoming the issues arising from this disability have been made in both academia and industry, although their clinical outcome is still limited. Translation of prosthetic research into clinics has been challenging because of the difficulties in meeting the necessary requirements of the market. In this perspective article, we suggest that one relevant factor determining the relatively small clinical impact of myocontrol algorithms for upper limb prostheses is the limit of commonly used laboratory performance metrics. The laboratory conditions, in which the majority of the solutions are being evaluated, fail to sufficiently replicate real-life challenges. We qualitatively support this argument with representative data from seven transradial amputees. Their ability to control a myoelectric prosthesis was tested by measuring the accuracy of offline EMG signal classification, as a typical laboratory performance metrics, as well as by clinical scores when performing standard tests of daily living. Despite all subjects reaching relatively high classification accuracy offline, their clinical scores varied greatly and were not strongly predicted by classification accuracy. We therefore support the suggestion to test myocontrol systems using clinical tests on amputees, fully fitted with sockets and prostheses highly resembling the systems they would use in daily living, as evaluation benchmark. Agreement on this level of testing for systems developed in research laboratories would facilitate clinically relevant progresses in this field.

Existing evidence leads to the conclusion that RE seems to be a safe intervention in PCaPs with beneficial effects on physical performance capacity and QoL. Nevertheless, further research in this field is urgently needed to increase understanding of exercise interventions in PCaPs.

Background The purpose of this systematic review update and meta-analysis was to analyze resistance exercise (RE) intervention trials in breast cancer survivors (BCS) regarding their effect on breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) status and upper and lower extremity strength. Methods Systematic literature search was conducted utilizing PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases. Any exercise intervention studies—both randomized controlled and uncontrolled—which assessed the effects of RE on BCRL in BCS in at least one intervention group published between 1966 and 31st January 2020 were included. Included articles were analyzed regarding their level of evidence and their methodological quality using respective tools for randomized and nonrandomized trials of the Cochrane collaboration. Meta-analysis for bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) values as well as upper and lower extremity strength was conducted. Results Altogether, 29 studies were included in the systematic review. Results of six studies with altogether twelve RE intervention groups could be pooled for meta-analysis of the BCRL. A significant reduction of BCRL after RE was seen in BIS values (95% CI − 1.10 [− 2.19, − 0.01] L-Dex score). Furthermore, strength results of six studies could be pooled and meta-analysis showed significant improvements of muscular strength in the upper and lower extremities (95% CI 8.96 [3.42, 14.51] kg and 95% CI 23.42 [11.95, 34.88] kg, respectively). Conclusion RE does not have a systematic negative effect on BCRL and, on the contrary, potentially decreases it.

Purpose To evaluate the impact of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on health-related outcome parameters in the prehabilitation of patients diagnosed with cancer. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies on HIIT in cancer prehabilitation conducted by screening standard databases from their inception to March 30, 2020. Outcomes of interest included cardiorespiratory fitness, feasibility, safety, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes. Results Of the 855 identified studies, 8 articles met the inclusion criteria (7 randomized, 1 non-randomized controlled trial) with a total of 896 patients. The study protocols were heterogeneous, but the methodological quality ranged from good to high according to PEDro scale. Meta-analysis revealed a significant improvement of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) achieved with HIIT compared to usual care. Furthermore, HIIT was feasible and safe, showing low risk of adverse events and positive effects on health-related outcomes in prehabilitative settings. Conclusion In the phase of prehabilitation, HIIT has potential health benefits in patients diagnosed with cancer and is feasible and safe to perform. Nonetheless, larger randomized controlled trials focusing on long-term effects (such as cancer recurrence or survival rates) are missing, to underline the potential relevance of HIIT for cancer patients.

Strength exercise seems not to have negative effects on lymphedema status or might not increase risk of development of lymphedema in breast cancer patients. Further research is needed in order to investigate the effects of resistance exercise for patients suffering from lymphedema.