Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41236596›Full record

ReviewJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2025

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of physical exercise on self-reported pain in patients with metastatic cancer.

Romi Sprengers, Evelyn M Monninkhof, Niels Eijkelkamp, Elsken van der Wall, Sabine Siesling, Anne M May, Anouk E Hiensch

Abstract readReview
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In one paragraph

Review in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Romi SprengersJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Evelyn M MonninkhofJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Niels EijkelkampCenter for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Elsken van der WallJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Sabine SieslingHealth Technology and Services Research Department, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Anne M MayJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Anouk E HienschJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. a.e.hiensch@umcutrecht.nl.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeCancer-related pain is a common complaint in patients with metastatic cancer, significantly diminishing Quality of Life (QoL). While limited research has shown beneficial effects of physical exercise on overall QoL in this population, the effect on pain remains unclear. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effect of physical exercise on self-reported pain in patients with metastatic cancer.

methodsPubMed and EMBASE were searched for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) up to May 1st, 2025, examining the effect of physical exercise on self-reported pain in patients with metastatic breast, lung, prostate, or colon cancer. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB 2) tool. Meta-analyses were performed using (standardized) mean differences ((S)MD).

resultsThirteen RCTs comprising 992 patients were included. No statistically significant effect on pain was found in the meta-analysis (SMD = -0.06 (95% CI -0.32, 0.19), I

conclusionsCurrent evidence is insufficient to conclude whether physical exercise is beneficial in reducing pain in patients with metastatic breast, lung, prostate, or colon cancer. Sufficiently powered studies are needed to determine its possible impact. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: In patients with metastatic cancer, physical exercise does not appear to exacerbate pain and may contribute to its reduction. The presence of pain should not preclude recommending physical exercise as part of supportive care.

Indexed as

Metastatic cancerPainPhysical activityPhysical exerciseRandomized controlled trials

Identifiers

PMID41236596

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.