Table 1.

Characteristics of randomised controlled trials included in the meta-analysis

Study/year	Patients no. (I/C)	Cancer type	Age, mean, years (I/C)	Intervention group					Control group	Primary outcome	Secondary outcomes	Study design/Jadad score
				Type of PR	Time/session	Frequency	Intensity	Duration
Arbane et al., [15]	51 (26/25)	NSCLC	65.4/62.6	Strength and mobility training	5–10 min	Twice daily	60–80% MHR	12 weeks + 5 days	Usual care	6MWD	POC, QoL, quadriceps strength	RCT/4
Arbane et al., [20]	131 (64/67)	NSCLC	67/68	Hospital plus home exercise	30 min	Once daily	60–90% MHR	4 weeks	Usual care	Physical activity	POC, QoL, quadriceps strength	RCT/4
Brocki et al., [43]	78 (41/37)	NSCLC	64/65	Aerobic exercise + resistance training + dyspnoea management	NA	NA	60–80% peak work capacity	12 weeks	Usual care	QoL	6MWD, FEV1	RCT/3
Brocki et al., [16]	68 (34/34)	NSCLC + metastatic tumour + other type	69.7/70.5	Inspiratory muscle training	NA	Twice daily	30% of MIP	2 weeks	Standard physiotherapy treatment	Inspiratory muscle strength	6MWD, FEV1, dyspnoea, POC	RCT/4
Edvardsen et al., [22]	61 (30/31)	NSCLC	64.4/65.9	High-intensity endurance and strength training	60 min	Three times a week	80–95% MHR	20 weeks	Standard postoperative care	Peak oxygen uptake	FEV1, QoL, muscular strength and mass	RCT/4
Stigt et al., [21]	49 (23/26)	NSCLC	63.6/63.2	Aerobic (cycling) + resistance	60 min	Twice weekly	60–80% peak load	12 weeks	Usual care	QoL	6MWD, FEV1, pain	RCT/4

I/C intervention/control, NSCLC non-small cell lung cancer; MHR maximum heart rate, 6MWD 6-min walk distance, QoL quality of life, RCT randomised controlled trial, NA not available, FEV ₁ the forced expiratory volume in 1 s, MIP maximal inspiratory pressure