. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Aug 5.

Published in final edited form as: Compr Physiol. 2012 Oct;2(4):2775–2809. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c120005

Table 3.

Systemic exercise adaptations that could have therapeutic potential to alleviate cancer-treatment related symptoms and side effects

Physiologic System	Normal adaptation(s) to exercise training	Side effects/Symptoms of cancer treatment
Cardiovascular	↑VO₂max; ↓Resting and submaximal HR; ↓BP; ↑Plasma volume; ↑Hb	↓VO₂max; reduced exercise tolerance; ↓Hb; ↑cardiomyopathy; ↑heart disease
Respiratory	↓ work of breathing; ↓submaximal Ve	↓lung capacity; ↑work of breathing; dyspnea
Musculoskeletal	↑ or preserve muscle CSA; ↑ muscular strength, endurance and power; ↑ or preserve BMD; ↓ bone turnover; ↑ joint ROM and lubrication	Cachexia; ↓muscle strength, endurance, power; bone loss; arthralgia; myalgia; rhabdomyolosis
Neurologic	SNS withdrawal; improved muscle fiber recruitment; preservation of large alpha-motor neurons; improved gait and balance	Peripheral and central neuropathy; cognitive changes; loss of coordination; balance problems
Metabolic	↑ oxidative capacity; ↑ RMR; weight management; ↑ HDL-C; ↓LDL-C; ↓TG	Weight gain; dyslipidemia; ↓RMR
Endocrine	↑ insulin sensitivity; ↓ fasting BG, ↓cortisol; ↓estrogens;	Hyperinsulinemia; ↑ diabetes risk; ↓estrogens; ↓ or ↑ androgens
Immune	Promote anti-inflammatory state	↑IL-6, ↑IL-10; ↑CRP

VO2max; HR; BP; Ve; CSA; BMD; ROM; SNS; RMR; HDL-C; LDL-C; TG; BG; IL-6; IL-10; CRP