Effects of exercise on respiratory muscle function and functional capacity in patients with cancer. Systematic review

Abstract

The objective of this review was to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise interventions in respiratory muscle function and functional capacity in patients suffering from cancer. A systematic review was conducted from November to December 2022 in the following databases: MEDLINE (through its search engine PubMed), PEDro, EMBASE, LILACS, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Results were reported according to the PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was previously registered (PROSPERO: CRD42022379018). Two independent reviewers extracted data from the included studies. 12 randomized controlled trials, including 679 patients, were included in this systematic review. 11 assessed the effects of therapeutic exercise on respiratory muscle function, and 6 assessed the effects on functional capacity. The current evidence is limited, and studies offer heterogeneous results. Further studies should be developed implementing structured exercise protocols, and the effects of exercise on different cancer types should also be assessed. However, this review offers a first insight into the potential effectiveness of therapeutic exercise in respiratory muscle function impairment and functional capacity loss.