Impact of exercise intervention on cancer-related fatigue and functional capacity among cancer patients

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and shifts in functional capacity are common side effects of cancer treatments among the cancer population. Considering the extent to which it influences quality of life (QOL), there is an urgent need to understand the magnitude of this concern. The aim of this review was to comprehend the influence of exercise intervention on the management of CRF, functional capacity, and QOL. This study also aimed to determine the association between CRF, functional capacity, and QOL. CINAHL, Medline, ScienceDirect, Knowledge genie, Research Gate, Ovid, Google Scholar, and Oncology Journals at the Cancer Institute (WIA) library were searched. There were 55 studies included in the study, involving 4722 patients. Most studies demonstrated a reduction in CRF and improvements in QOL and functional capacity. When CRF decreases, QOL was found to improve along with functional capacity. Promising evidence exists regarding the benefits of exercise interventions in the alleviation of CRF and the improvement of functional capacity and QOL. More research is required on the mechanisms underlying CRF and gains in functional capacity due to exercise interventions. By doing so, health-care professionals can optimize exercise interventions as required for their patients.