Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Reducing the burden of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): A meta-analysis of exercise interventions (146501)

Dhiaan Sidhu 1 , Jodie Cochrane Wilkie 1 2 , Jena Buchan 1 , Jay Calder 3 , Ben Singh 4 , Rachel Scicluna 1 , Kellie Toohey 1 3
  1. Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Research Theme, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia
  2. Exercise Medicine Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
  3. Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia
  4. Alliance for Research in Exercise Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Aims

To determine whether exercise improves symptom severity, pain and quality of life in adults with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), and to provide evidence-based exercise recommendations for supportive care.

Methods

SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE and CINAHL were searched from inception to December 2025 for randomised controlled trials assessing the effects of exercise on symptom severity, pain and quality of life in adults with CIPN. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed. Meta-analyses were conducted for each outcome, with assessment of heterogeneity and publication bias.

Results

Nine studies (n = 413) were included in the review. Interventions included multimodal (n = 5), resistance (n = 1), yoga (n = 2), sensorimotor (n = 1) and whole-body vibration (n = 1). Multimodal, resistance, sensorimotor, whole-body vibration and hand and foot specific exercises showed improvements in outcomes. Six studies were judged to have a low risk of bias. Eight studies were included in meta-analyses, which showed a moderate but non-significant improvement in symptom severity (Hedges’ g = 0.53, p = 0.156), moderate and statistically significant reduction in pain (Hedges’ g = 0.69, p = 0.018) and large and statistically significant improvement in quality of life (Hedges’ g = 0.97, p = 0.002). Substantial to considerable heterogeneity was observed across outcomes. No evidence of publication bias was detected.

Conclusions

Exercise shows promise for reducing the burden of CIPN, particularly multimodal, resistance, sensorimotor, whole-body vibration and hand and foot specific exercises. Further research is needed to establish the most appropriate exercise prescription to inform future exercise guidelines.