Benefits of physical activity during cancer treatment

In recent years it has become increasingly clear that physical activity, even during a hospital stay or active treatment, can be highly beneficial for people with cancer. Regular exercise helps preserve muscle strength, reduce fatigue, and improve quality of life. Patients who remain active often go home sooner, tolerate treatment better, feel mentally stronger, and have a lower risk of serious side effects. Physical activity also provides a sense of control, reduces anxiety and low mood, and offers structure during a period of uncertainty. International guidelines recommend that cancer patients exercise three times a week at moderate to high intensity, both during and after treatment (Read more: Campbell Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2024, Dutch Cancer Institute, Enicto Consortium). Below you can read what recent scientific research has found on this topic.

What does research say?

Researchers analyzed the available literature on this topic by searching five scientific databases. They looked for studies published between 2005 and May 2025 examining the effect of exercise interventions on quality of life in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Their search identified 21 studies that met the predefined selection criteria, and they examined the data from all of these studies in greater detail allowing the data of more than 3,000 study participants to be analyzed in total. It turned out that all forms of exercise helped: cardiovascular training (such as cycling or walking), strength training, or a combination of both. The positive effects were consistently found across all studies. There was some variation between studies, meaning the optimal exercise dose requires further investigation. The conclusion was clear: physical activity demonstrably improves quality of life during chemotherapy (Rolle et al., Lancet Healthy Longevity, 2026).

Another study showed that physical activity can reduce chemotherapy-related fatigue and promote well-being. Across five European countries and Australia, 357 women with metastatic breast cancer participated in a large study. Half followed a personalized nine-month exercise program, while the other half received standard care (the PREFERABLE-EFFECT study). The program included balance exercises, strength training, and cardiovascular training, with mandatory cycling at least once a week. After six months, participants in the exercise group were significantly less fatigued and had a higher quality of life than the control group. The authors concluded that guided, personalized exercise reduced fatigue and improved quality of life in women with metastatic breast cancer, and therefore recommended that physical activity become a standard part of treatment (Hiensch et al., Nature Medicine, 2024).

Physical activity during hospitalization was also found to shorten the length of hospital stays. Here too, researchers searched medical databases for relevant previously published scientific studies. They analyzed data from 20 studies involving a total of 2,635 patients who participated in an exercise program during cancer treatment (1,383 in the exercise group, 1,252 as controls). The studies were identified up to August 2023. Most patients had a blood cancer and underwent stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy. Participants ranged from children (average age 11) to adults (average age 52). The exercise programs varied widely: cardiovascular training, strength training, combined programs, stretching exercises, and even whole-body vibration, including cycling on a stationary bike. Sessions lasted an average of 38 minutes, four times a week, over a period of five and a half weeks. Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that structured exercise during cancer treatment is safe and helps patients return home sooner, though larger studies are needed to further confirm these findings (Mizrahi et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2024). Research also showed that physical activity during cancer treatment can be cost-effective. Patients with metastatic breast cancer participated in a supervised exercise program, after which researchers assessed whether the costs of the program were outweighed by its benefits. The outcome was positive: patients felt better and functioned better, and the program proved to be a sound investment for healthcare as a whole, in part because patients required less additional care (Schouten et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2025).

What role can Bike Labyrinth play?

Bike Labyrinth can help distract patients from fatigue and discomfort during exercise. Cancer-related fatigue is one of the primary reasons patients stop exercising. Bike Labyrinth shifts attention away from physical exertion and discomfort, redirecting it toward experience and enjoyment. This can be particularly relevant during chemotherapy, as patients may find the recurring treatment sessions burdensome.

Previous research with Bike Labyrinth shows that people cycle for longer when using the system. It has also been shown to improve adherence when patients participate in an exercise program (Karssemeijer et al., Alzheimers Res Ther. 2019, Boer et al., JAR Life. 2025; Haazen et al. 2015). Research shows that exercise programs can be cost-effective, but that lack of adherence and patient motivation to exercise are obstacles to maintaining a program. Bike Labyrinth helps people overcome these challenges by making cycling more engaging and enjoyable and it is precisely this that allows Bike Labyrinth to support the effectiveness of an exercise intervention, potentially contributing to healthcare cost savings as well.

Furthermore, Bike Labyrinth can be combined with any cycling trainer and connected to existing bikes. It can also be used at home to motivate patients to stay active between hospital visits. The wide variety of scenic routes and themes offers an engaging and varied experience, which is likely to help patients maintain their exercise program. The sense of traveling and discovering can contribute to mental well-being, especially for those who are unable to travel due to illness. Choosing a destination and making decisions during a cycling session can also provide a sense of escape and personal autonomy during a period of uncertainty. Finally, Bike Labyrinth is suitable for a broad range of cancer patients from cycling while lying in bed, to sitting in a chair or wheelchair bike, to cycling on a stationary bike, and from very light pedaling or pedaling with motor assistance to cycling under one's own strength with resistance.