The Effects of Exercise on Symptoms of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Published in: Oncology nursing forum Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 426 - 444
• Main Authors: Khmethong, Usa, Hawsawi, Samah, Kraenzle Schneider, Joanne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oncology Nursing Society 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Aerobics; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Cancer Survivors - psychology; Cancer Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; Diabetes; Diabetic neuropathy; Drug dosages; Exercise; Exercise Therapy - methods; FDA approval; Female; Humans; Male; Meta-analysis; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - complications; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neurotoxicity; Oncology; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - chemically induced; Peripheral neuropathy; Physical fitness; Strength training; Subject heading schemes; Systematic review; United States > US; cancer survivors; exercise; chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
• ISSN: 0190-535X; 1538-0688; 1538-0688
• DOI: 10.1188/24.ONF.426-444

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) can cause treatment delays or discontinuation. Exercise can improve CIPN, but the effects have been inconsistent. 12 databases and 5 websites were searched from database inception to December 22, 2023, for primary studies that were reported in English and examined the effects of exercise on CIPN in cancer survivors. 20 studies (N = 1,308 total participants) were identified and reviewed. Using a random-effects model, exercise slightly improved symptoms of CIPN (Hedges's g = 0.28, Hartung-Knapp adjusted 95% confidence interval [0.12, 0.45], p = 0.002). The 95% prediction interval showed that the true effect size of future studies would likely range from -0.1 to 0.66. Frequency of performing exercise moderated the effect size, further improving symptoms. Nurses can encourage cancer survivors to engage in exercise, such as resistance training, aerobic exercise, balance training, and/or yoga. Nurses can refer cancer survivors to trained exercise specialists or provide information about finding a community exercise program for patients with cancer.