The impact of exercise interventions on domains of quality of life in women diagnosed with breast cancers during chemotherapy treatment: a meta-analytic review

BACKGROUND: Exercise can improve quality of life in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, but evidence of the most effective intervention characteristics remains inconclusive. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exercise on quality of life in women with breast cancer during chemotherapy and examine whether its relationship varies by described exercise modality, dose, and other study characteristics. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a systematic search of five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE) from Jan 1, 2005, to May 24, 2025, identified randomised controlled trials evaluating exercise interventions and constructs of quality of life in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Standardised mean differences (Hedges' g) were calculated and pooled using three-level random-effects models accounting for dependent effect sizes, and potential moderators were examined. FINDINGS: =55·76%). Described exercise modality significantly moderated effects (test statistic 3 for moderator differences 28·85, p