SynthesisJNCI cancer spectrum2026
A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effect of exercise on the development of cancer-related lymphedema.
Synthesis in JNCI cancer spectrum, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Construction and Validation of a Risk Prediction Model for Lower Limb Lymphedema After Cervical Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study.Cancer medicine · 2026Article
- Thriving after cancer: a summary of the special collection on the benefits of exercise and nutrition in cancer survivorship.JNCI cancer spectrum · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to (i) evaluate effects of exercise on cancer-related lymphedema (CRL) incidence, and (ii) explore whether effect differed according to patient and exercise intervention characteristics.
methodsA search of 6 electronic databases was undertaken to identify intervention studies published up to May 2025. Studies included individuals at risk of and with CRL, comparing exercise to no exercise, and reporting lymphedema outcomes. Meta-analyses using random effects models estimated the relative risk (RR) of exercise on CRL. Exploratory subgroup analyses were conducted for upper- vs lower-limb lymphedema, <5 or 5+ lymph nodes dissected, and exercise intervention characteristics including exercise mode and degree of supervision. Overall quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.
resultsSeventeen studies (published 2002-2024) involving 2739 individuals were included. Most (88%, n = 15) studies focused on upper-limb lymphedema post-breast cancer, and 2 studies investigated risk of lower-limb lymphedema. With low overall certainty, the RR of developing CRL for those in the exercise group compared with the non-exercise group was 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.53 to 0.96). The majority of evidence is derived from studying those at high risk of breast cancer-related lymphedema, but subgroup analyses suggest that the benefit may extend outside the breast cancer setting. Subgroup analyses support participation in any/all exercise modes, even when unsupervised.
conclusionThese findings underscore the promise of exercise for CRL risk reduction and the urgent need for rigorously designed trials to clarify effects across patient risk profiles, cancer types, and exercise approaches. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020196623.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.