Missing Script

Get updates

MS-N173 · Exercise and rehabilitation · colorectal-cancer patients receiving active systemic treatment

Evidence at a glance

  • Question: Does adding supervised resistance training to home aerobic activity improve chemotherapy neuropathy or fatigue?
  • Finding: No significant improvement in neuropathy, fatigue or grip strength was demonstrated in a small pilot; self-reported activity increased.
  • Evidence label: Negative pilot randomized evidence for symptom benefit
  • Benefit: Feasible participation and increased reported physical activity.
  • Certainty: Low because only 27 of 40 randomized participants completed follow-up.
  • Risk: No exercise-related adverse event reported in this selected sample.
  • Cancer-control boundary: This was supportive care; it did not test tumor response or survival.

What was studied

Adults with colorectal cancer receiving active chemotherapy or immunotherapy, without unsafe cardiovascular, musculoskeletal or bone-metastasis conditions.

  • Design and comparator: Pilot parallel-group randomized trial; supervised resistance plus home aerobic activity versus home aerobic activity alone.
  • Participants: 40 randomized 1:1; 27 analyzed at eight weeks (15 intervention, 12 control).
  • Intervention: Two supervised 45–60-minute resistance sessions weekly plus three home aerobic sessions for eight weeks; controls received structured home aerobic activity and weekly calls.
  • Primary outcome and follow-up: EORTC CIPN-20 neuropathy at eight weeks; fatigue, grip strength and physical activity were secondary.

What the study found

Between-group differences were not significant for sensory, motor or autonomic neuropathy, fatigue or grip strength. The sensory median difference was −9.26 points (95% CI −29.26 to 10.74; P=.464). Self-reported activity favored supervised resistance training by 2,226 MET-minutes/week (95% CI 1,002–2,451; P<.001).

Negative or uncertain findings: The primary symptom outcome was null, attrition was 33%, outcomes were unblinded and activity was self-reported.

Limits and applicability

Pilot scale, high dropout, short duration and an active exercise control make both false-negative and adherence-selection effects plausible. Results should not be generalized to severe neuropathy or unstable disease.

Funding and conflicts: Funding and conflict details were not verified in the extracted full text.

Safety context

Neuropathy may impair balance and foot sensation. Active chemotherapy adds variable anemia, thrombocytopenia, infection risk and fatigue; resistance loads and fall-risk exercises need adjustment.

Questions for the care team

  • Is neuropathy stable enough for resistance and balance work?
  • Would supervised physical therapy reduce fall risk?
  • How should exercise change around oxaliplatin infusions, cold sensitivity or low blood counts?

Primary sources

Last literature search: 29 October 2026. Record appraisal: 29 October 2026. This page is educational and does not replace individualized medical advice. Exercise prescriptions should be adapted to diagnosis, treatment, surgical restrictions, blood counts, cardiopulmonary status, neuropathy, fall risk and bone-metastasis location. Symptom or fitness improvement is not proof of tumor response, recurrence prevention or longer survival unless those outcomes were directly tested.