The Effects of Martial Arts on Cancer-Related Fatigue and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials

Daniel Sur, Shanthi Sabarimurugan and Shailesh Advani
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Daniel Sur: 11th Department of Medical Oncology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu”, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Shanthi Sabarimurugan: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
Shailesh Advani: Terasaki Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: Background: To evaluate and synthesize the existing evidence of the effects of practicing martial arts by cancer patients and cancer survivors in relation to overall quality of life (QoL) and cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 1 January 2000 to 5 November 2020 investigating the impact of martial arts were compared with any control intervention for overall QoL and CRF among cancer patients and survivors. Publication quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Cochrane handbook of systematic reviews. Results: According to the electronic search, 17 RCTs were retrieved including 1103 cancer patients. Martial arts significantly improved social function, compared to that in the control group (SMD = ?0.88, 95% CI: ?1.36, ?0.39; p = 0.0004). Moreover, martial arts significantly improved functioning, compared to the control group (SMD = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.39–0.96; p < 0.00001). Martial arts significantly reduced CRF, compared to that in the control group (SMD = ?0.51, 95% CI: ?0.80, ?0.22; p = 0.0005, I2 > 95%). Conclusions: The results of our systematic review and meta-analysis reveal that the effects of practicing martial arts on CRF and QoL in cancer patients and survivors are inconclusive. Some potential effects were seen for social function and CRF, although the results were inconsistent across different measurement methods. There is a need for larger and more homogeneous clinical trials encompassing different cancer types and specific martial arts disciplines to make more extensive and definitive cancer- and symptom-specific recommendations.

Keywords: cancer; QOL; fatigue; martial arts; clinical trial; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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