Time to consider the potential role of alternative resistance training methods in cancer management?

Exercise has emerged as fundamental therapeutic medicine in the management of cancer. Exercise improves health-related outcomes including quality of life, neuromuscular strength, physical function and body composition, and is associated with a lower risk of disease recurrence and increased survival. Moreover, exercise during or post-cancer treatments is safe, can ameliorate treatment-related side effects, and may enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. To date, traditional resistance training (RT) is the most used RT modality in exercise oncology. However, alternative training modes, such as eccentric, cluster set, and blood flow restriction are gaining increased attention. These training modalities have been extensively investigated in both athletic and clinical populations (e.g., age-related frailty, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes), showing considerable benefits in terms of neuromuscular strength, hypertrophy, body composition, and physical function. However, these training modes have only been partially or not at all investigated in cancer populations. Thus, we outline the benefits of these alternative RT methods in patients with cancer. Where evidence in cancer populations is sparse, we provide a robust rationale for the possible implementation of certain RT methods, where results have been positive in other clinical populations. Finally, we provide clinical insights for research which may help future RT investigations in patients with cancer and suggest clear practical applications for targeted cancer populations and related benefits.

© 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Shanghai University of Sport. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)