Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors: Consensus Statement from International Multidisciplinary Roundtable
- Study type
- Clinical guideline
- Study name
- ACSM Roundtable 2019
- Design
- Consensus statement from an international multidisciplinary roundtable (the second American College of Sports Medicine roundtable, 2018)
- Sample size
- Not applicable (consensus statement)
- Source
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2019
In plain words
This consensus statement shows that exercise is generally safe for most people who have been through cancer or are being treated, and that being inactive should be avoided. Certain types of exercise, such as aerobic exercise and resistance (strength) training, can help reduce anxiety, symptoms of depression and tiredness, and improve physical ability and quality of life. The effect of exercise on problems such as neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet) and on concentration and memory is not yet clear. Talk to your own doctor before starting an exercise programme.
Key points
Key guideline recommendations
- Level of evidence not stated in the abstract
Exercise training and exercise testing are generally safe for cancer survivors.
- Level of evidence not stated in the abstract
Every cancer survivor should avoid inactivity.
- Level of evidence not stated in the abstract
Specific doses of aerobic training, combined aerobic and resistance training, and/or resistance training can improve common cancer-related health outcomes, including anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, physical function and health-related quality of life. Dose details in the full text of the paper.
Study population
Cancer survivors. The abstract does not state more detailed inclusion criteria.
Endpoints
Common cancer-related health outcomes, including anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, physical function and health-related quality of life. The safety of exercise training and exercise testing was also examined.
Safety and side effects
According to the abstract, exercise training and exercise testing are generally safe for cancer survivors. The abstract does not report the rate of serious adverse events.
Clinical significance and place in guidelines
According to the abstract, this roundtable confirms the conclusion of the 2010 roundtable that exercise training and testing are generally safe for cancer survivors and keeps the message "avoid inactivity" for all survivors. The evidence was also judged sufficient for improvements in anxiety, depression, fatigue, physical function and quality of life with specific doses of exercise. These recommendations are guidance for fitness and healthcare professionals. The exact doses (type, intensity, duration and frequency) are not given in the abstract and should be checked in the full text of the paper. Adoption in other clinical guidelines should be checked separately.
Limitations
According to the abstract, the effect of exercise on outcomes such as peripheral neuropathy and cognitive function is unclear, and more research is needed to fill the remaining knowledge gaps. This paper is a consensus statement, not a randomised trial.
This summary was prepared by the editorial team from the published paper; the original paper is the final reference. Read the original abstract on PubMed.