Skip to main content

Table 2 Summary of exercise prescritption and progression patterns

From: Exercise efficacy and prescription during treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a systematic review

Author/ date

Frequency of exercise prescription

Intensity of exercise prescription

Time of exercise session

Duration of exercise intervention

Type of exercise prescribed

Exercise intervention setting

Progression patterns documented

Adverse events / safety

Banzer et al. (2014)

3–5 x/week

Moderate (RPE 13–14)

30–45 min

16 weeks

Hiking, walking, running, cycling, swimming

Home based with option of supervised exercise (Nordic walking) 1x/week

Exercise prescription adjusted to their condition, side-effect status and exercise readiness after 4 weeks

No other details provided

Not reported

Cormie et al. (2014)

Twice weekly

Aerobic: 65–80% HRmax or RPE 11–13 (Borg 6–20)

Resistance: Moderate to high (2–4 sets, 6–12-RM)

Aerobic: 15–20 min

6 months

Aerobic (walking or cycling) and resistance (10 exercises, machine based, upper and lower muscle groups)

Supervised, exercise clinic

2 one-on-one sessions, followed by group exercise

No adverse events reported

Marker et al. (2018)

2–3 x/week

Aerobic: < 85% HRmax

Resistance: RPE > 7 (Borg 0–10)

60 mins

17–21 weeks

Aerobic (walking, cycling or rowing) and resistance (body weight, machine based, free weights, upper and lower muscle groups)

Supervised, unspecified setting

No progression described

Not reported

McLaughlin et al. (2019)

Twice weekly

Aerobic: 70% HRmax

Resistance: 3 sets, 12 reps, 60% 1-RM

Aerobic: 15 mins

12 weeks

Aerobic (cycling) and resistance (8 exercises, machine based, lower muscle groups only – PICC)

Supervised

No progression described

No adverse events reported

Mouri et al. (2018)

Daily

Low intensity, 3 sets, 10 reps

30 mins

8 weeks

Resistance exercise

Unsupervised, home-based

Intervention modified by study instructor according to performance and tolerability as identified by self-report diary and interview

Self-modification recommended, based on participants feelings of nausea / fatigue

Adverse events reported in n = 5. Muscle pain (n = 2), arthralgia (n = 1), dyspnoea on exertion (n = 1) plantar aponeurosis (n = 1)

Naito et al. (2018)

Daily

Low intensity, 3 sets, 10 reps

30 mins

8 weeks

Home-based resistance exercise

Unsupervised, home-based

Intervention modified by study instructor according to performance and tolerability as identified by self-report diary and interview

Self-modification recommended, based on participants feelings of nausea / fatigue

Adverse events reported in n = 5. Muscle pain (n = 2), arthralgia (n = 1), dyspnoea on exertion (n = 1) plantar aponeurosis (n = 1)

Ngo-Huang et al. (2017)

Aerobic: 3x/week

Resistance: twice weekly

Aerobic: RPE 12–13

Resistance: 3 sets, 8–12 reps, RPE 12–13

Aerobic: 20 mins

Resistance: 30 mins

Median: 17 weeks (5–35 weeks)

Aerobic (walking, cycling, elliptical) and resistance (25 exercises (8 per session), bands, upper and lower muscle groups)

Unsupervised, home-based

Resistance: increase resistance when 3 × 12 performed without difficulty

No adverse events reported

Ngo-Huang et al. (2019)

Aerobic: 3x/week

Resistance: twice weekly

Aerobic: RPE 12–13

Resistance: 3 sets, 8–12 reps, RPE 12–13

Aerobic: 20 mins

Resistance: 30 mins

Mean: 16 ± 9

Aerobic (walking, cycling, elliptical) and resistance (25 exercises (8 per session), bands, upper and lower muscle groups)

Unsupervised, home-based

Resistance: increase resistance when 3 × 12 performed without difficulty

No adverse events reported

Niels et al. (2018)

Twice weekly

Aerobic: 70–80% HRmax, RPE 6–7 (Borg 0–10)

Resistance: 2 sets, 8–12 reps, 70–80% 1-RM

Aerobic: 4–10 min

7 months

Aerobic (cycling and cross-trainer) and resistance (6 exercises, machine based, upper and lower muscle groups)

Supervised, location not specified

No progression described

No adverse events reported

Steindorf et al. (2019)

Twice weekly

Supervised: 1–3 sets, 8–20 reps, 50–80% 1-RM

Unsupervised: 1–3 sets, 8–20 reps, RPE 14–16 (Borg 6–20)

60 mins

6 months

Resistance exercise

Supervised: 8 exercises machine based, upper and lower muscle groups

Unsupervised: 8 exercises, bands and dumbbells, upper and lower muscle groups

Supervised: university exercise facility

Unsupervised: home-based

Both Supervised and unsupervised: 4 week adaptation period (5 exercise, 1–2 sets, 20 reps, 50–60% 1-RM. From week 5, 8 exercises, 2–3 sets, 8–12 reps, 60–80% 1-RM.

Supervised: Progressive increase in resistance (5%) after successful completion of 3 sets, 12 reps, 3 consecutive sessions.

No adverse events reported

Wiskemann et al. (2019)

Twice weekly

Supervised: 1–3 sets, 8–20 reps, 50–80% 1-RM

Unsupervised: 1–3 sets, 8–20 reps, RPE 14–16 (Borg 6–20)

60 mins

6 months

Resistance exercise

Supervised: 8 exercises machine based, upper and lower muscle groups

Unsupervised: 8 exercises, bands and dumbbells, upper and lower muscle groups

Supervised: university exercise facility

Unsupervised: home-based

Both Supervised and unsupervised: 4 week adaptation period (5 exercise, 1–2 sets, 20 reps, 50–60% 1-RM. From week 5, 8 exercises, 2–3 sets, 8–12 reps, 60–80% 1-RM.

Supervised: Progressive increase in resistance (5%) after successful completion of 3 sets, 12 reps, 3 consecutive sessions.

No adverse events reported

Yeo et al. (2012)

Daily

Brisk, unspecified

10–30 min

3 months

Aerobic (walking)

Unsupervised: home-based,

week 1–4: 10 mins

week 5–8: 20 mins

week 9–12: 25–30 min

Not reported