Exercise Interventions for Patients with Brain Tumors: A Comprehensive Review

By
Arooba Iqbal
L. Nicolas Gonzalez Castro
September 7, 2026

Frontiers In Oncology

Objective:

To synthesize available literature concerning physical exercise and the overall health of patients with brain tumors, addressing effects on motor function, sleep, mood, cognition, and overall quality of life.

Approach:

Systematic Review: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed and the Cochrane Library for studies on physical exercise interventions among patients with brain tumors.

Key Findings:

31 studies met inclusion criteria: 23 clinical trials, 4 observational studies, 2 qualitative analyses, 1 case report, and 1 case study.
Patients engaged in various exercise modalities including aerobic, strength-training, yoga, and balance exercises.
Adverse events were uncommon and consistent with those reported in non-cancer populations.

Interpretation:

Current literature indicates that physical exercise is feasible and generally safe for brain tumor patients.

Limitations:

High risk of bias in studies.
Typically small sample sizes.
Heterogeneity among exercise interventions.

Conclusion:

Larger prospective clinical trials are needed to establish clinical effectiveness and guide the development of exercise guidelines for brain tumor patients.