Benefits of strength and resistance exercise in cancer patients: a systematic review of clinical trials

Objectives: This review aims to provide a thorough examination of the impact of strength and resistance training on cancer patients, specifically addressing quality of life, cancer- related fatigue, and physical and psychological function. Additionally, it seeks to evaluate the methodological rigor of existing studies and identify areas for future research. Methods: A systematic review of clinical trials, according to PRISMA 2020 criteria, of PubMed, LILACS, and the Cochrane Library databases was conducted to identify relevant articles published between 2019 and 2024. Studies assessing the effects of resistance training on cancer patients' outcomes and available in English or Spanish were included. Data synthesis and analysis were performed to summarize key findings and assess the overall quality of evidence. Results: The findings consistently demonstrated the positive effects of resistance training on enhancing quality of life and mitigating cancer-related fatigue across different situations. However, methodological variability and limitations, such as small sample sizes and intervention heterogeneity, were noted, highlighting the need for standardized protocols and larger-scale trials. Conclusion: This review underscores the potential of strength and resistance training as a valuable adjunctive therapy for cancer patients, emphasiz-ing its role in improving both physical and psychological. Objetivos: Esta revisión tiene como objetivo proporcionar un examen exhaustivo del impacto del entrenamiento de fuerza y resistencia en pacientes con cáncer, abordando específicamente la calidad de vida, la fatiga relacionada con el cáncer y la función física y psicológica. Además, busca evaluar la rigurosidad metodológica de los estudios existentes e identificar áreas para futuras investigaciones. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática, bajos los criterios PRISMA 2020, de ensayos clínicos en las bases de datos de PubMed, LILACS y la Biblioteca Cochrane para identificar artículos relevantes publicados entre 2019 y 2024. Se llevó a cabo una síntesis y análisis de datos para resumir los hallazgos clave y evaluar la calidad general de la evidencia. Resultados: Los 16 estudios analizados demostraron consistentemente los efectos positivos del entrenamiento de resistencia en la mejora de la calidad de vida y la mitigación de la fatiga relacionada con el cáncer en diferentes situaciones. Sin embargo, se observaron variabilidades metodológicas y limitaciones, como tamaño