Exercise in head and neck cancer: review of the last 5 years

Head and Neck Cancers (HNC) is a significant global health issue with increasing incidence and mortality rates. Physiotherapy in head and neck cancer is crucial for managing post-treatment challenges, reducing functional limitations, improving quality of life, and achieving maximum physical independence. This review examined full-text articles published between 2019 and 2024 on PubMed using keywords related to head and neck neoplasms, exercise, and rehabilitation. Out of sixteen accessed articles, eleven met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies primarily focused on supervised aerobic and resistance exercises post-surgery. Aerobic exercise training showed no reduction in heart rate and aerobic endurance parameters pre- and post-treatment among participants, while the control group exhibited significant decreases, emphasizing the necessity of aerobic exercise during chemotherapy. Muscle strength exercises reported significant increases in overall muscle strength and positive changes in fatigue levels and quality of life in the exercise groups. Stretching exercises were performed in studies, replacing warm-up and cool-down periods. Qi-gong exercises administered to HNC patients resulted in significant improvements in quality of life, sleep quality, and cancer-related fatigue. The limited number of exercise studies in HNC highlights the need for more research. The reviewed studies demonstrate the importance of incorporating supervised exercise in the rehabilitation of HNC patients, particularly to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy. Future research should explore home exercise programs and telerehabilitation to accommodate patients unable to participate in supervised exercise programs. Exercise plays a critical role in the rehabilitation of HNC patients, improving physical function, reducing fatigue, and enhancing quality of life, thus emphasizing the need to incorporate structured exercise programs into HNC treatment plans to optimize patient outcomes.