Exercise Treatment for Cancer-Related Pain

Background: Cancer-related pain should be a target of active palliative care.Methods: The aim of this narrative review was to provide an comprehensive overview regarding assessment and treatment of cancer-related pain by exercise treatment and its derivative cognitive behavioral therapy.Results: Range-of-motion training and stretching are useful in alleviating pain and improving shoulder joint mobility in the axillary web syndrome occurring after axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer.Strength training reduces trapezius paralysis caused by head and neck cancer surgery.Exercise treatment alleviates pain and improves functional independence after bone surgery for spinal metastases.Furthermore, it alleviates pain and improves physical function and activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Adjuvant exercise treatment can mitigate adverse effects and increase the tolerated chemotherapy dose.Psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy comprising patient education and exercise treatment) for cancer-related pain management achieves improvement in both pain and ADLs.Behavioral therapy aims to improve the level of ADL by constantly planning goal settings and maintaining motivation for exercise habits.Cognitive rehabilitation using the virtual reality system to treat cancer-related pain and exercise regimens utilizing peer networks, where patients support each other in virtual reality spaces are promising.Conclusion: Exercise treatment is useful in ameliorating pain associated with cancer surgery, bone metastasis, and cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Public health education on the efficacy of exercise in reducing cancer risk and countering the side effects of cancer treatment can motivate patients to undergo exercise treatment.