Muscle Strength Linked to Improved Survival Among Cancer Patients

Muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness may be especially important for cancer patients.

A new study finds both of these fitness components -- when strong -- may significantly boost survival.

Researchers reviewed data from 42 published studies involving more than 47,000 patients with various types and stages of cancer.

Those with high muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness were 31%-46% less likely to die from any cause And the benefit remained strong even among patients with advanced cancer, according to the results.

In addition, increases in cardiorespiratory fitness alone were associated with a reduced risk of cancer-specific mortality.

The authors say assessing physical fitness, especially muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, is crucial for predicting cancer mortality

and these findings suggest “muscle-strengthening activities could be employed to increase life expectancy.”

Source: British Journal of Sports Medicine

Author Affiliations: Edith Cowan University, Middlesex University, London, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, University of Molise, University of Milan, University of Queensland