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Exercise Interventions for Cancer Survivors: A Meta-Analysis of Quality of Life Outcomes

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Exercise improves quality of life (QOL) in cancer survivors, although characteristics of efficacious exercise interventions for this population have not been identified.

Purpose

The present meta-analysis examines the efficacy of exercise interventions in improving QOL in cancer survivors, as well as features that may moderate such effects.

Method

Studies were identified and coded, and QOL effect sizes were calculated and analyzed for trends.

Results

Overall, exercise interventions increased QOL, but this tendency depended to some extent on exercise and patient features. Although several features were associated with effect sizes, models revealed that interventions were particularly successful if they targeted more intense aerobic exercise and addressed women. These tendencies emerged over longer periods of time and were more prominent in studies with higher methodological quality.

Conclusion

Appropriately designed exercise interventions enhance QOL for cancer survivors and this pattern is especially evident for women. Limitations are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by University of Connecticut Research Foundation Grant 433527 to Blair T. Johnson and Linda B. Pescatello and facilitated by NIH grants F31MH080626 to Rebecca A. Ferrer and R01-MH58563 to Blair T. Johnson. We thank Michelle R. Warren for her feedback on prior versions of this manuscript.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd., MSC 7326, Room 4089A, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA

    Rebecca A. Ferrer Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology and Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Tania B. Huedo-Medina Ph.D. & Blair T. Johnson Ph.D.

  3. Department of Kinesiology and Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Stacey Ryan D.P.T. & Linda S. Pescatello Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Rebecca A. Ferrer Ph.D.
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  2. Tania B. Huedo-Medina Ph.D.
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  3. Blair T. Johnson Ph.D.
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  4. Stacey Ryan D.P.T.
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  5. Linda S. Pescatello Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca A. Ferrer Ph.D..

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Table A1

Bivariate moderators of QOL effect sizes at first available follow-up assessment (DOCX 16 kb)

Table A2

Bivariate moderators of QOL effect sizes at first available follow-up as gauged by change from baseline in intervention groups, clustered by methodological quality (DOCX 16 kb)

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Ferrer, R.A., Huedo-Medina, T.B., Johnson, B.T. et al. Exercise Interventions for Cancer Survivors: A Meta-Analysis of Quality of Life Outcomes. ann. behav. med. 41, 32–47 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9225-1

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