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Peters M, Butson G, Mizrahi D, Denehy L, Lynch BM, Swain CTV. Physical activity and pain in people with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:145. [PMID: 38321248 PMCID: PMC10847204 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08343-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Physical activity can provide analgesic benefit but its effect on cancer-related pain is unclear. This review synthesised and appraised the evidence for the effect of physical activity on pain in people living with or beyond cancer. METHODS A systematic search of Ovid Medline and Embase was performed to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs), randomised cross-over studies (RXTs), and prospective observational studies that examined physical activity and pain outcomes in adults living with or beyond cancer. Meta-analyses were performed to generate effect estimates. Risk of bias was assessed, and the GRADE system was used to assess evidence quality. RESULTS One hundred twenty-one studies (n = 13,806), including 102 RCTs, 6 RXTs, and 13 observational studies, met the criteria for inclusion. Meta-analyses of RCTs identified a decrease in pain intensity (n = 3734; standardised mean difference (SMD) - 0.30; 95% confidence interval (CI) - 0.45, - 0.15) and bodily pain (n = 1170; SMD 0.28; 95% CI 0.01, 0.56) but not pain interference (n = 207; SMD - 0.13, 95% CI - 0.42, 0.15) following physical activity interventions. Individual studies also identified a reduction in pain sensitivity but not analgesic use, although meta-analysis was not possible for these outcomes. High heterogeneity between studies, low certainty in some effect estimates, and possible publication bias meant that evidence quality was graded as very low to low. CONCLUSION Physical activity may decrease pain in people living with and beyond cancer; however, high heterogeneity limits the ability to generalise this finding to all people with cancer or to specific types of cancer-related pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell Peters
- Cancer Science Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Grace Butson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David Mizrahi
- The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a Joint Venture With Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Linda Denehy
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Level 7, Alan Gilbert Building, 161 Barry St, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Brigid M Lynch
- Cancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Physical Activity Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Christopher T V Swain
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Level 7, Alan Gilbert Building, 161 Barry St, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- Cancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.
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