Effects of resistance training on quality of life, fatigue, physical function, and muscular strength during chemotherapy treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: To systematically review and meta-analyse the efficacy of resistance training on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, physical function, and muscular strength in people diagnosed with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: Electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane Central, CINAHL, SCOPUS and Web of Science were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the effects of resistance training to control on QOL, fatigue, physical function, and lower-body and upper-body muscular strength in adults undergoing chemotherapy. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) were pooled using a random effects model. Risk of bias was assess using the risk of bias tool for randomised trials (RoB 2).

Results: Seven RCTs encompassing 561 participants were included. The pooled results of seven RCTs showed that resistance training during chemotherapy significantly improved lower-body strength (n = 555, SMD 0.33, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.53, moderate-quality evidence, I² = 23%) compared to control. There was no evidence for an effect of resistance training on QOL (n = 373, SMD 0.13, 95% CI -0.15 to 0.42, low-quality evidence, I² = 0%), fatigue (n = 373, SMD -0.08, 95% CI -0.37 to 0.22, low-quality evidence, I² = 20%), physical function (n = 198, SMD 0.61, 95% CI -0.73 to 1.95, very low-quality evidence, I² = 83%), or upper-body strength (n = 413, SMD 0.37, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.80, very low-quality evidence, I² = 69%).

Conclusions: Resistance training may improve lower-body strength in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment compared to control.