Physical activity

Suggested

5 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 21, 2026

Suggested5 studies

Regular exercise improves fitness, cardiovascular health, and quality of life in prostate cancer patients

Across 5 studies (3 RCTs, 1 cluster RCT, 1 cohort study) involving over 674,000 participants, physical activity consistently benefits men with prostate cancer. A 12-month RCT (n=50) demonstrated exercise at ~140 min/week reduced body mass by 2.0 kg, systolic blood pressure by 13 mmHg, and improved quality of life by 13 EQ-5D points with no serious adverse events. A cluster RCT (n=119) showed 12 weeks of community-based exercise significantly improved 6-minute walk distance (+50 m, p=0.001) and leg strength (+22 kg, p=0.001). Supervised exercise for 12 weeks improved endothelial function (flow-mediated dilatation +2.2%, p=0.04, effect size 0.60) in men on androgen deprivation therapy. A large Swedish cohort (n=673,443) found sedentary men had 11% higher prostate cancer risk. Benefits require sustained participation, as cardiovascular improvements diminished after exercise cessation.

Evidence

Exercise training as a novel primary treatment for localised prostate cancer: a multi-site randomised controlled phase II study

Authors: A Bandura, AK Eriksen, B Gardner, B Verplanken, C Bosco, C Renzi, FC Hamdy, G Godin, GA Borg, GJ Koelwyn, HH Kyu, HJ Tan, J Sim, L Bourke, LA Kaminsky, MR Law, R Horne, SM Eldridge, T Hvid, T Kroll, T Li, TJ Wilt, WC Willett, YL Le

Published: May 14, 2018

In a multi-site open-label RCT of 50 men with low/intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer randomized to 12 months of exercise training (n=25) or usual care with physical activity advice (n=25), 92% completed assessments. The exercise group achieved a mean 140 minutes per week (95% CI 129–152 min), 94% of the target dose, at 75% HRmax. Exercise produced a mean body mass reduction of 2.0 kg (95% CI -2.9, -1.1), systolic blood pressure reduction of 13 mmHg (95% CI 7, 19), diastolic blood pressure reduction of 8 mmHg (95% CI 5, 12), and improved quality of life by 13 EQ-5D points (95% CI 7, 18). Only 3 men progressed to invasive therapy (2 in usual care). No serious adverse events occurred.

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Effects of a lifestyle intervention on endothelial function in men on long-term androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer

Authors: Bourke, Liam, Fairhurst, Caroline, Gilbert, Stephen, Rosario, Derek J., Saxton, John, Tew, Garry, Winter, Edward

Published: January 14, 2016

A randomized controlled trial assigned 50 men on long-term androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer to a 12-week supervised exercise and dietary advice intervention or usual care. At 12 weeks, the intervention group demonstrated significantly improved endothelial function with a mean relative flow-mediated dilatation difference of 2.2% (95% CI 0.1 to 4.3, p = 0.04) and an effect size of 0.60 (95% CI <0.01 to 1.18). Skeletal muscle mass, treadmill walk time, and exercise behavior also improved significantly in the intervention group (all p < 0.05). At 24-week follow-up, only the treadmill walk time improvement persisted, indicating that sustained exercise participation is necessary to maintain cardiovascular benefits.

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Fitness outcomes from a randomised controlled trial of exercise training for men with prostate cancer: the ENGAGE study

Authors: Craike, Melinda, Fraser, SF, Gaskin, CJ, Livingston, PM, Orellana, L, Owen, PJ

Published: January 1, 2016

A cluster randomised controlled trial (n=119; intervention n=53, control n=66) across 15 clinician sites evaluated a 12-week community-based exercise training program. Compared to usual care, the exercise group significantly improved 6-minute walk distance (mean difference=49.98 m, p_adj=0.001), leg strength (mean difference=21.82 kg, p_adj=0.001), chest strength (mean difference=6.91 kg, p_adj=0.001), 30-second sit-to-stand repetitions (mean difference=3.38 reps, p_adj=0.001), and reach distance (mean difference=4.8 cm, p_adj=0.024). Resting heart rate also improved (mean difference=−3.76 beats/min, p=0.034, unadjusted). Androgen deprivation therapy did not modify exercise responses.

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Diet and exercise intervention adherence and health-related outcomes among older long-term breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors

Authors: Demark-Wahnefried, Wendy, Morey, Miriam C., Mosher, Catherine E., Rand, Kevin L., Snyder, Denise C., Winger, Joseph G.

Published: March 20, 2014

A randomized controlled trial enrolled 641 older, overweight, long-term survivors of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer in a telephone and mailed print diet-exercise intervention over one year. Exercise behavior mediated significant indirect effects of session attendance on physical function (β = 0.11, p < 0.05), basic lower extremity function (β = 0.10, p < 0.05), advanced lower extremity function (β = 0.09, p < 0.05), mental health (β = 0.05, p < 0.05), and BMI reduction (β = -0.06, p < 0.05). Behaviors were assessed at 14 time points throughout the intervention period.

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Physical activity in men and relation to prostate cancer

Authors: Norman, Anna

Published: May 28, 2004

In a nationwide Swedish cohort of 673,443 men followed for 19 years (1971-1989) through linkage of census data and the Cancer register, 19,670 prostate cancers were identified. Men with sedentary occupations had a statistically significant 11% increased risk of prostate cancer compared to men with very high/high occupational physical activity levels. Total daily physical activity was measured using a validated questionnaire (Spearman r=0.56 against 7-day activity records, r=0.69 deattenuated; reproducibility r=0.65) in 33,466 men aged 45-79 years. Physical activity levels were assessed in MET-hours/day. Total physical activity decreased by 4% from age 45 to 79 in cross-sectional analyses and by 4% from age 15 to 50 in longitudinal analyses.

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