Review Article

Effectiveness of Resistance Training on Fatigue in Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Table 1

Characteristics of the studies included in the review.

Author and yearCharacteristic of the populationCharacteristic of the interventionMethodological quality
Sample size and ageCancer type and cancer treatmentType of interventionDuration and frequencyTraining schedule (1RM percentage, sets, repetitions, and weight increase)PEDRo scale total score

Neumann et al., [27]; 25-78 years: EG (), EG (), and CG ()I–IIIa breast cancer stage
Chemotherapy
EG1: progressive muscle strength training. EG2: traditional aerobic training. CG: no intervention12 weeks; 3 times per weekEG1: 2 sets, 8-12 repetitions, 60-70% 1RM, and 10% weight increase when they complete >12 repetitions. EG2: 60% of VO2 max for 15 min and progressing at 80% of VO2 max for 45 minutes6

Courneya et al., [29, 30]; EG1 (; 49.5 years), EG2 (; 49 years), and CG (; 49 years)I–IIIa breast cancer stage
Chemotherapy
EG1: progressive muscle strength training. Leg extension, leg curl, leg press, calf raise, chest press, seated row, triceps extension, bicep curl, and modified abdominal. EG2: traditional aerobic training. CG: no intervention12 weeks; 3 times per weekEG1: 2 sets, 8-12 repetitions, 60-70% 1RM, and 10% weight increase when they complete >12 repetitions. EG2: 60% of VO2 max for 15 min and progressing at 80% of VO2 max for 45 minutes7

Cheng et al., [28]; : EG1 (), EG2 (), and CG ()Lung, gastric, and breast cancer
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy
EG1: traditional muscle strength training. Standing row, bench press, standing upper limbs dumbbell press, lying leg lifts, prone leg raises, and prone leg curls. EG2: traditional muscle strength training. Standing row, bench press, standing upper limbs dumbbell press, lying leg lifts, prone leg raises, and prone leg curls
CG: no intervention
12 weeks; 3 times per weekEG1: 10 sets, 3 min each, and 30% 1RM; EG2: 10 sets, 3 min each, and 60% 1RM6
Christensen et al., [42]; EG1 (; years) and CG (; years)Testicular germ cell cancer
Chemotherapy
EG1: progressive muscle strength training. Leg press, knee extension, chest press, and lateral pull down using stationary equipment (Technogym)
CG: no intervention
9 weeks; 3 times per weekEG1: 3 sets, 15-10 repetitions, and 15-12 RM6

Grote et al., [34]; EG (; years) and CG (; years)Head-neck cancer stages
Radiotherapy
EG: progressive muscle strength training. Leg press, chest pull, and chest press (Kaphingst). CG: no intervention7 weeks; 3 times per weekEG: 3 sets and 8-12 repetitions. Weight load increased when the . 2.5 kg load increased in upper extremities and 5.0 kg in lower extremities6

Hacker et al., [41], years: EG () and CG ()Malignant neoplasm
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
EG: muscle strength training with elastic bands. Chest fly, bicep curl, triceps extension, knee bend, shrug, vertical shoulder row, lateral shoulder raise, knee bend, knee extension, wall push-up, squats, and in-bed sit-ups. CG: no intervention6 weeks; 2 times per weekEG: 1-2 sets, 8-10 repetitions, and elastic resistance band. The progression of exercise was determined by increasing the resistance of the elastic band according to the Borg scale4

Hacker et al., [40]; EG (; years) and CG (; years)Leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma myelodysplastic syndrome
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
EG: muscle strength training with elastic bands. Seated leg press, seated row machine, trunk flexion, knee flexion machine, bench press, trunk extension machine, push press, standing planted flexion, and frontal pulldown. CG: no interventionHospitalized 2 times per week. 6 weeks; 3 times per week after hospital dischargeEG: 1-2 sets and elastic resistance band. The progression of exercise was determined by increasing the resistance of the elastic band according to the Borg scale6

Piraux et al., [38]; EG1 (; years), EG2 (; years), and CG (; years)Prostate cancer
Radiotherapy
EG1: muscle strength training with elastic bands. Abdominal, pectoral, deltoid, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, biceps, triceps, quads, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, soleus, and glutes. EG2: aerobic training type HIIT. CG: no intervention5-8 weeks; 3 times per weekEG1: 3 sets, 8-12 repetitions, and body weight; elastic bands were used. EG2: 5 minutes: 65–70% HR max. 6

Rogers et al., [35]; EG (; years) and CG (; years)Head-neck cancer
Radiotherapy
EG: muscle strength training with elastic bands. Chest press, leg extension, lateral row, reverse curl, triceps using wall push-ups or triceps kickback, heel raise, 2-arm frontal raise, hamstring curl, and arm curl. CG: no intervention12 weeks; 2 times per weekEG: 1 set, 10 repetitions, and resistance bands. Light, moderate, and heavy resistance bands were used7

Santa Mina et al., 2013; EG (; years) and CG (; years)Prostate cancer
Androgen deprivation therapy
EG: muscle strength training with elastic bands. The resistance exercises were ball squats, hamstring curls, push-ups, upright rows, triceps extensions, bicep curls, seated row, lateral raises, abdominal crunches on the ball, and hip extensions. CG: aerobic exercise training6 months; 3 times per weekEG: 2-3 sets and 8-12 repetitions each at an intensity of 12–15 on a rating of perceived exertion scale; elastic bands were used. CG: 30-60 min/session, 60–80% of heart rate reserve6

Schmidt et al., [31]; EG (; years) and CG (; years)Breast cancer
Chemotherapy
EG: progressive muscle strength training. 8 machine-based exercises; CG: progressive muscle relaxation according to Jacobson12 weeks; 2 times per weekEG: 3 sets, 8-12 repetitions, and 60-80% 1RM7

Schmidt et al., [32]; EG (; years) and CG (; years)0-III breast cancer stage
Radiotherapy
EG: progressive muscle strength training. 8 machine-based exercises; CG: progressive muscle relaxation according to Jacobson12 weeks; 2 times per weekEG: 3 sets, 8-12 repetitions, and 60-80% 1RM4

Segal et al., [36]; EG: (; years) and CG (; years)Prostate cancer
Androgen deprivation therapy
EG: progressive muscle strength training+placebo. Leg press, chest press, leg extension, leg curl, shoulder press, seated side pull row, calf raise, crunch, and back extension. CG: no intervention12 weeks; 3 times per weekEG1: 2 sets, 8-12 repetitions, and 60%-70% 1RM. Increased resistance by 5 pounds when more than 12 repetitions were completed8

Segal et al., [37]; EG1: (; years), EG2 (; years), and CG (; years)Prostate cancer
Radiotherapy
EG1: progressive muscle strength training+placebo. Leg press, chest press, leg extension, leg curl, shoulder press, seated side pull row, calf raise, crunch, and back extension. EG2: traditional aerobic training. CG: no intervention24 weeks; 3 times per weekEG1: 2 sets, 8-12 repetitions, and 60%-70% 1RM. Increased resistance by 5 pounds when more than 12 repetitions were completed. EG2: weeks 1 to 4: 50%-60% VO2 max
Weeks 5 to 24: 70%-75% VO2 max
7

Steindorf et al., [33]; EG (; years) and CG (; years)0-III breast cancer stage
Radiotherapy
EG: progressive muscle strength training. Leg extension, leg curl, leg press, internal and external shoulder rotation, seated row, downward latissimus pulls, shoulder flexion and extension, and butterfly and reverse butterfly. CG: no intervention12 weeks; 2 times per weekEG: 3 sets, 8-12 repetitions, and 60%-80% 1RM. Increase in load by 5% in all 3 sets of 12 repetitions was successfully completed7

EG: experimental group; CG: control group; 1RM: one-repetition maximum; HIIT: high-intensity interval training; PER: perceived exertion rating; VO2 max: maximum oxygen consumption; HR: heart rate.