Effects of resistance exercise in prostate cancer patients: a meta-analysis

Abstract

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.

Pharmacologic Interventions for Fatigue in Cancer and Transplantation: A Meta-Analysis

“…Interventions including physical activity and psychological and pharmacologic approaches have been investigated for the management of fatigue in cancer patients, and several systematic reviews have been published [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] . The evaluation of pharmacologic interventions is particularly important, because medications can be associated with adverse effects and high costs.…”

Exercise and prostate cancer: From basic science to clinical applications

“…Within the context of supportive strategies, strong evidence supports that exercise is beneficial for cancer patients, especially during, and post‐treatment. Several meta‐analysis and reviews underline that structured exercise improves quality of life, physical function, aerobic endurance capacity, and muscle strength . Further, exercise can reduce treatment‐associated side effects, especially cancer‐related fatigue, and might contribute to improved survival, and reduced breast‐cancer recurrence .…”

“…Several meta-analysis and reviews underline that structured exercise improves quality of life, physical function, aerobic endurance capacity, and muscle strength. [42][43][44][45][46][47] Further, exercise can reduce treatment-associated side effects, especially cancer-related fatigue, [48][49][50] and might contribute to improved survival, and reduced breast-cancer recurrence. 51 53 In addition, a group exercise program also improves systolic and diastolic blood pressure and waist circumference.…”

Physical interventions for patients suffering from chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy

“…Medical exercise to improve endurance capacity and/or muscular strength and sensorimotor functions has many beneficial effects for healthy people and for cancer patients [4,[7][8][9]. In our opinion, before starting any exercise program, contraindication potential must be assessed (e.g., psychosocial assessment, cardiotoxicity assessment, such as by echocardiography, pulmonary function testing, musculoskeletal strength, and flexibility testing) and patients are to be excluded if clinically determined to be at increased risk of harm.…”

“…In our opinion, before starting any exercise program, contraindication potential must be assessed (e.g., psychosocial assessment, cardiotoxicity assessment, such as by echocardiography, pulmonary function testing, musculoskeletal strength, and flexibility testing) and patients are to be excluded if clinically determined to be at increased risk of harm. Every exercise intervention should be planned on the basis of such assessments and performed under regular medical supervision in order to minimize or to avoid side effects and (possibly life-threatening) complications [2,4,[7][8][9]. In addition, self-management interventions should be incorporated into the protocol-patients are able to help themselves to mitigate the symptoms and sequelae of cancer and its necessary treatment and certainly can be educated to incorporate appropriate self-monitoring and report any sequelae before these are exacerbated and thereby risk adherence to treatment and rehabilitation.…”