Table 1.
Study characteristics.
| Study design, country, reference | Cancer type | Population and age (years), n, mean (SD) or median (minimum-maximum) | System and exergames | Program duration (weeks) | Session frequency and duration | Intensity | Supervision, individual training (IT) or group training (GT) | Comparison group |
| Quasi-RCTa, Egypt [37] | Breast cancer | ExGb: 15, 54.07 (8.28); SPTGc: 15, 53.07 (7.24) | Nintendo Wii: tennis, triceps extension, and rhythmic boxing | 4 | 2×/week for 30 minutes | NRd | Yes | SPTG: stretching and PNFe |
| RCT, Saudi Arabia [40] | Breast cancer | ExG: 30, 48.83 (7.0); SPTG: 28, 52.07 (7.48) | Xbox Kinect: Kinect Sports | 8 | 5×/week | NR | Yes (GT) | SPTG: RESf |
| RCT, Switzerland [33] | Pediatric oncology | ExG: 22, 11.81 (2.41); MemGg: 23, 10.71 (2.48); CG: 24, 11.13 (2.47) | Xbox Kinect: Shape Up | 8 | 3×/week for 45 minutes | RPEh: mean 4.35 (SD 2.23)/10 | No | CGi: usual care; MemG: memory training |
| Controlled quasi-experimental, Brazil [41-43] | Various types (gastrointestinal tract, breast, abdominal and pelvic, or oropharyngeal) | ExG: 15, 57.13 (16.74); CAGj: 15, 63.29 (7.34); ExGhk: 15, 56.73 (11.94) | Xbox Kinect: Your Shape Fitness Evolved (Wall Breaker, Stomp It, and Run the World) | 8-10 | 2-3×/week; ExG: mean 91.84 (SD 11.88) minutes/week; ExGh: mean 90.03 (SD 9.95) minutes/week | NR | Yes (IT) | N/Al |
| RCT, Turkey [38] | Breast cancer | ExG: 19, 50.84 (8.53); SPTG: 17, 51.00 (7.06) | Xbox Kinect: Dance Central and Kinect Sports | 6 | 2×/week for 45 minutes | NR | No | SPTG: ENDm and RES |
| Controlled quasi-experimental, Brazil [44,45] | Various types (gastrointestinal, breast, abdominopelvic, ovary, uterus, prostate, or oropharynx) | ExG: 10, 61.46 (8.79); ExGh: 10, 57.62 (7.57) | Xbox Kinect: Your Shape Fitness Evolved (Stomp It and Wall Breaker) | 8-10 | 2-3×/week for 20-50 minutes | Light to moderate intensity | Yes (IT) | N/A |
| RCT, Finland [34] | Pediatric cancer | ExG: 17, 7.8 (3-16); CG: 19, 7.9 (3-15) | Nintendo Wii Fit: Hula Hoop or Jogging, Island Cycling, and Rhythm Kung-Fu | 8 | 7×/week for 30 minutes | NR | No | CG: PAn advice: 30 minutes/day |
| Single group, USA [48,49] | Early-stage non–small cell lung cancer | ExG: 7, 64.6 (6.5) | Nintendo Wii Fit Plus: Walking and balance games | 16 | Balance: 5×/week; Walking: 5×/week; W1o: 5 minutes/session incremented by 5 minutes/session each week if PSEp >70% | Light intensity | No | N/A |
| Qualitative, Greece [35] | Pediatric cancer | ExG: 3, 5.66 (0.58) | Xbox Kinect: Kinect Sports 1 and 2, Kinect Adventures | 12 | 3×/week for 30 minutes | NR | Yes (IT) | N/A |
| RCT, USA [50] | Prostate cancer | ExG: 8, 77.5 (6.7); SPTG: 6, 75.7 (9.5); CG: 5, 71.8 (5.0) | Nintendo Wii Fit | 12 | 5×/week for 45 minutes | Light to moderate: HRrq: 60%-70%; RPE: 3-5/10 | No | CG: usual care; SPTG: END and RES |
| Prospective randomized, Germany [46] | Hematologic cancer | ExG: 19, 56 (21-65); SPTG: 23, 56.5 (23-69) | Nintendo Wii Sport, Wii Fit, and Wii Balance Board | 4 | 5×/week for 30-45 minutes | NR | Yes (IT) | SPTG: END and RES |
| Single group, Japan [47] | Hematologic cancer | ExG: 16, 66 (60-76) | Nintendo Wii Fit: Hula Hoop and Basics Step | Median: 23.5 days | 5×/week for 20 minutes | METsr: Hula Hoop: 4; Basic steps: 3 | Yes (IT) | N/A |
| RCT, Denmark [51] | Prostate cancer | ExG: 21, 67.6 (4.6); CG: 20, 69.8 (4.4) | Xbox Kinect: Your Shape Fitness Evolved, Sport and Adventure | 12 | 3×/week for 60 minutes | NR | No | CG: usual care |
| Single group, United States [52] | Oral or laryngeal cancer | ExG: 8, 57.6 (13.3) | Nintendo Wii Fit: Wii Fit U | 6 | 3-5×/week; W1-W3: 36 minutes/week; W4-W6: 40.1 minutes/week | HRpeaks: approx. 65%; RPE: 3-6/10 | No | N/A |
| Single group, United States [53] | Advanced cancers | ExG: 4, 63.3 (8.7) | PAfitME (personalized exergame PA) | 6 | 3-5×/week; W1-W3: 47.0 minutes/week; W4-W6: 81.2 minutes/week | RPE: 3-6/10 | No | N/A |
| RCT, Poland [39] | Breast cancer | ExG: 9, 50.6 (12.6); CG: 7, 59.55 (7.85) | Virtual Therapeutic Garden | 2 | 7×/week for 15 minutes | Light intensity | Yes (IT) | CG: usual care |
| Case series, Turkey [36] | Pediatric medulloblastoma | ExG: 5, 10.4 (3.5) | Nintendo Wii Fit Plus: Soccer heading, ski jumping, Penguin Slide, Ski Slalom, Balance Bubble | 12 | 2×/week for 45 minutes | Light intensity | Yes (IT) | N/A |
aRCT: randomized controlled trial.
bExG: exergames group.
cSPTG: standard physiotherapy group.
dNR: not reported.
ePNF: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.
fRES: resistance training.
gMemG: working memory training program group.
hRPE: Rating Perception of Exertion.
iCG: control group.
jCAG: remission patients.
kExGH: exergame group with healthy volunteers.
lN/A: not applicable.
mEND: endurance training.
nPA: physical activity.
oW1: week 1.
pPSE: personal self-efficacy.
qHRr: heart rate reserve.
rMET: metabolic equivalent task.
sHR peak: heart rate peak.