The Effect of Exercise Interventions on Alleviating Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review

Background: 85%–95% of patients with cancer experience chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which may lead to neuropathic pain, emotional distress, functional difficulties, and interpersonal problems. Although exercise interventions have been proposed for improving and preventing CIPN, evidence regarding the efficacy of these interventions has been inconsistent and of inadequate quality. In addition, few domestic systematic reviews have examined the effects of exercise on CIPN. Purpose: To examine the effects of exercise interventions in cancer patients with CIPN using a systematic review (SR) method. Methods: An SR method was used in this paper by applying the concept of PICO using keywords P “cancer”, I “rehabilitation”, “exercise”, C “usual care, standard of care”, and O “chemotherapy-Induced peripheral neuropathy” in a search of the Ovid Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Airiti Library databases for articles published from 2002 to 2021. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 13 research articles were identified for review in this study. Results: The 13 randomized controlled trials reviewed in this SR included 909 cancer patients during or after chemotherapy who were receiving exercise interventions. The results indicate that single or combined exercise protocols have consistent benefits in terms of improving CIPN symptoms. However, because of the relatively small sample sizes (n = 19-355) and the multiple types (n = 9), frequencies (1–7 day/week), and durations (5–60 minutes/ time) of exercise protocols used in these studies, future research is necessary to explore differences in the types and subgroup effects of exercise. Conclusions: The results from this systematic review indicate that the combined exercise model has consistent benefits in terms of helping prevent and alleviate the symptoms of CIPN. In clinical practice, healthcare providers may consider encouraging cancer patients to initiate mild physical activity when their physical conditions are stable and without evident side effects from chemotherapy to minimize the impacts of CIPN on daily functioning and quality of life.