Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise

Suggested

2 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise – Cancer

Suggested2 studies

Aim for 150 minutes weekly of moderate aerobic exercise during cancer care

A consensus statement from the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia and a systematic review of 14 randomized controlled trials (648 sedentary cancer survivors) support embedding moderate-intensity aerobic exercise into standard cancer care. The systematic review found exercise interventions significantly improved aerobic tolerance at 8–12 weeks (SMD = 0.73, 95% CI 0.51–0.95), with gains persisting at 6 months (SMD = 0.70, 95% CI 0.45–0.94). COSA recommends progressing toward at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, applicable across cancer types and treatment phases. Notably, individualized prescriptions below full guideline levels still produced meaningful fitness improvements, making exercise accessible even for sedentary patients. Exercise is both safe and effective for counteracting the physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment.

Evidence

Clinical Oncology Society of Australia position statement on exercise in cancer care

Authors: Adams, Diana, Atkinson, Morgan, Bucci, Lucy, Cormie, Prue, Cust, Anne, Eakin, Elizabeth, Hayes, Sandra, McCarthy, Alexandra, Murnane, Andrew, Patchell, Sharni

Published: January 1, 2018

COSA position statement, endorsed as a consensus by Australia's peak multidisciplinary cancer organization, recommends people with cancer progress towards at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. This recommendation is grounded in the established clinical research base demonstrating exercise is both safe and effective for counteracting adverse physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment. COSA calls for exercise to be embedded as part of standard practice in cancer care across all multidisciplinary cancer teams. The guideline applies broadly to people with cancer regardless of cancer type or treatment phase.

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Interventions to improve exercise behaviour in sedentary people living with and beyond cancer: a systematic review

Authors: A Kaltsatou, AJ Daley, AM Husebo, BM Pinto, BM Pinto, BM Pinto, BR Ferrell, CJ Kim, CL Rock, D J Rosario, DC McKenzie, DY Fong, EL Richman, FM Perna, J Elliott, J M Saxton, J Maddams, JA Meyerhardt, JA Meyerhardt, JPT Higgins, JS Drouin, K A Robb, K E Homer, KA Martin, L Bourke, L Bourke, L Bourke, L Steed, LA Cadmus, M A Thaha, MD Holmes, NF Khan, R Musanti, S J C Taylor, S Michie, SA Kenfield, SC Hayes, SI Mishra, SI Mishra

Published: December 12, 2013

A systematic review of 14 randomized controlled trials involving 648 sedentary cancer survivors demonstrated that exercise interventions significantly improved aerobic exercise tolerance at 8–12 weeks compared with usual care controls (standardized mean difference = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.51–0.95). Improvements persisted at 6 months (SMD = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.45–0.94), though four of five trials at this timepoint carried high risk of bias. Notably, only 6 of 14 trials prescribed exercise meeting current aerobic guidelines, and none achieved 75% or greater adherence to guideline-level prescriptions. This indicates that individualized, below-guideline prescriptions may be more realistic and still produce meaningful fitness gains in this population.

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