van Vulpen, J.K., Peeters, P.H., Velthuis, M.J., van der Wall, E., & May, A.M. (2016). Effects of physical exercise during adjuvant breast cancer treatment on physical and psychosocial dimensions of cancer-related fatigue: A meta-analysis. Maturitas, 85, 104–111. 

STUDY PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of exercise on physical and psychosocial dimensions of fatigue during adjuvant treatment for breast cancer

TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review

• FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 5 
• TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW = 714
• SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: 70–206
• KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: All had breast cancer and were receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. In two trials, women were also receiving radiation therapy and/or hormonal therapy.

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Analysis showed that exercise had significant benefit for general fatigue (ES = –0.22), physical fatigue (ES = –0.35), reduced activity (ES = –0.22), and reduced motivation (ES = –0.18) (p = 0.05) but no effect on cognitive or affective dimensions of fatigue. Five studies included resistance exercises. Two studies compared resistance and aerobic exercise.

Exercise was shown to have beneficial effects on the physical dimensions of fatigue with low to moderate effect sizes. No apparent effects on emotional and cognitive components of fatigue were observed.

Limited number of studies included

This analysis adds to the large body of evidence showing the beneficial effects of exercise on fatigue. In this study, only the physical aspects of fatigue were affected. Additional interventions may be needed to address the psychosocial dimensions of fatigue.