Strength Training In Oncology: An Overview

Strength training as an effective and complementary health rehabilitative measure in oncology has not received the required attention in the previous years. This is due to the fear, that intensive stress could cause structural damage or negative effects on the immune system of the patient. Therefore the scientists concentrated on the apparently safer method of "endurance training". Indeed strength training still plays a subordinate role in oncologic rehabilitation. In the last years, more emphasis is being placed on the possibilities of carrying out a structured muscular training while bearing its possible effects in mind. Consequently, the first studies indicate the possibility of using strength training during chemotherapy and ray treatment due to the numerous positive influences on cachexia, fatigue and life quality. Results from the rehabilitation phase, i.e. aftercare, show increasing positive effects from strength training that are equally comparable to endurance training. All in all, strength training should, as a matter of principle, be applied in the early rehabilitation of tumor patients independent of the entity. Nonetheless, more scientific research on strength training is required in order to corroborate the findings of this current study as well as offer concrete lessons regarding the degree of dosage and effectiveness on oncologic patients.