{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]],"date-time":"2026-02-02T17:15:08Z","timestamp":1770052508634,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]],"date-time":"2026-02-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769990400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Rehabil. Sci."],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n Cancer-related pain is a frequent and disabling symptom that negatively affects function and quality of life. Physiotherapy interventions are increasingly used as adjuvant treatments to alleviate pain and improve functional recovery in oncology patients.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n To evaluate the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions in reducing cancer-related pain and improving functional outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO ID: CRD42026542801). Searches were performed in PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, and PEDro databases between January 30 and February 15, 2025, including randomized controlled trials published in English or Spanish with PEDro scores\u2009\u2265\u20096.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n Eight randomized controlled trials published between 2020 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 514 participants. Interventions included resistance and aerobic exercise, sensorimotor training, electrotherapy, and multimodal rehabilitation programs. Most studies reported significant reductions in pain intensity, improvements in functional capacity and quality of life, and no serious adverse effects. The methodological quality of the included trials was moderate to high.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n Physiotherapy interventions, particularly structured exercise and electrotherapy, appear to be effective and safe adjuvant strategies that may contribute to improvements in pain-related and functional outcomes in people with cancer. The available evidence predominantly addresses neuropathic pain associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Nevertheless, heterogeneity among protocols and small sample sizes limit the strength of conclusions, underscoring the need for additional high-quality randomized controlled trials.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Systematic Review Registration<\/jats:title>\n PROSPERO CRD42026542801.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fresc.2026.1680725","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]],"date-time":"2026-02-02T06:33:14Z","timestamp":1770013994000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effectiveness of physical therapy techniques for cancer-related pain: a systematic review"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Iser Alejandro","family":"Gonz\u00e1lez-Ram\u00edrez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Campus de Villaviciosa, Calle Tajo s\/n. 28670 Villaviciosa de Od\u00f3n","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xavier Oswaldo","family":"Molina-L\u00f3pez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Campus de Villaviciosa, Calle Tajo s\/n. 28670 Villaviciosa de Od\u00f3n","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Leonardo Enrique","family":"Bermeo-Gual\u00e1n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Campus de Villaviciosa, Calle Tajo s\/n. 28670 Villaviciosa de Od\u00f3n","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nuria","family":"Bonsfills-Garc\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Campus de Villaviciosa, Calle Tajo s\/n. 28670 Villaviciosa de Od\u00f3n","place":["Madrid, Spain"]},{"name":"STRONG Research Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Velarde-Fern\u00e1ndez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Campus de Villaviciosa, Calle Tajo s\/n. 28670 Villaviciosa de Od\u00f3n","place":["Madrid, Spain"]},{"name":"STRONG Research Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Vanesa","family":"Abu\u00edn-Porras","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Campus de Villaviciosa, Calle Tajo s\/n. 28670 Villaviciosa de Od\u00f3n","place":["Madrid, Spain"]},{"name":"STRONG Research Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1007\/s00520-022-07491-8","article-title":"Pain prevalence and characteristics in survivors of solid cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"31","author":"Haenen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Support Care Cancer"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"316","DOI":"10.3390\/md21050316","article-title":"Efficacy and security of tetrodotoxin in the treatment of cancer-related pain: systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"21","author":"Huerta","year":"2023","journal-title":"Mar Drugs"},{"key":"B3","year":""},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70414","DOI":"10.1111\/cts.70414","article-title":"Suzetrigine, a non-opioid small-molecule analgesic: mechanism of action, clinical, and translational science","volume":"18","author":"Rajasingham","year":"2025","journal-title":"Clin Transl Sci"},{"key":"B5","article-title":"Pain-related and psychological factors mediate the effect of personality on health-related quality of life. A study in breast cancer survivors with persistent pain","author":"Aho","year":"","journal-title":"Front Psychol."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e44176","DOI":"10.1097\/MD.0000000000044176","article-title":"Impact of pain on the quality of life of advanced cancer patients in a palliative care setup in Bangladesh","volume":"104","author":"Sarkar","year":"2025","journal-title":"Medicine (Baltimore)"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1224","DOI":"10.1001\/jamaoncol.2019.1439","article-title":"Prevalence of chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain in cancer survivors in the United States","volume":"5","author":"Jiang","year":"2019","journal-title":"JAMA Oncol"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"591","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers15030591","article-title":"Update on prevalence of pain in patients with cancer 2022: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis","volume":"15","author":"Snijders","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cancers (Basel)"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"212","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmn.2024.12.011","article-title":"Effects of physical exercise on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"26","author":"Amarelo","year":"2025","journal-title":"Pain Manag Nurs"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e317","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpainsymman.2021.09.011","article-title":"Pain prevalence during cancer treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"63","author":"Evenepoel","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Pain Symptom Manage"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"358","DOI":"10.1016\/S0885-3924(99)00097-4","article-title":"Barriers to effective cancer pain management: a review of the literature","volume":"18","author":"Pargeon","year":"1999","journal-title":"J Pain Symptom Manage"},{"key":"B12","first-page":"e1","article-title":"Head and neck cancer pain: systematic review of prevalence and associated factors","volume":"3","author":"Macfarlane","year":"","journal-title":"J Oral Maxillofac Res"},{"key":"B13","article-title":"Global estimates of prevalence of chronic painful neuropathy among patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 28 countries, 2000\u201324","author":"D'Souza","year":"","journal-title":"Reg Anesth Pain Med"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2461","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pain.2014.09.020","article-title":"Incidence, prevalence, and predictors of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"155","author":"Seretny","year":"2014","journal-title":"Pain"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1053\/j.seminoncol.2021.09.004","article-title":"Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and rehabilitation: a review","volume":"48","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Semin Oncol"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"318","DOI":"10.1007\/s11764-022-01182-3","article-title":"Effects of exercise on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"17","author":"Guo","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Cancer Surviv"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e505","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpainsymman.2021.12.021","article-title":"Psychological and non-pharmacologic treatments for pain in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"63","author":"Ruano","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Pain Symptom Manage"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2491","DOI":"10.1002\/cncr.31303","article-title":"Cancer pain management and the opioid crisis in America: how to preserve hard-earned gains in improving the quality of cancer pain management","volume":"124","author":"Paice","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cancer"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.1097\/NCC.0000000000001126","article-title":"Barriers to adequate pain control and opioid use among cancer survivors: implications for nursing practice","volume":"46","author":"Marshall","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cancer Nurs"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1840","DOI":"10.1097\/j.pain.0000000000002173","article-title":"Revisiting patient-related barriers to cancer pain management in the context of the US opioid crisis","volume":"162","author":"Kwekkeboom","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pain"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1143","DOI":"10.1080\/0284186X.2023.2238890","article-title":"Effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions on improving quality of life, total neuropathy score, strength and reducing pain in cancer survivors suffering from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy\u2014a systematic review","volume":"62","author":"Seth","year":"2023","journal-title":"Acta Oncol"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers9050053","article-title":"Physical activity and quality of life in cancer survivors: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research","volume":"9","author":"Burke","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cancers (Basel"},{"key":"B23","first-page":"145","article-title":"Physical activity and pain in people with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"32","author":"Peters","year":"","journal-title":"Support Care Cancer"},{"key":"B24","year":""},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"617","DOI":"10.1007\/s10549-012-2335-7","article-title":"Pain in long-term breast cancer survivors: the role of body mass index, physical activity, and sedentary behavior","volume":"137","author":"Forsythe","year":"2013","journal-title":"Breast Cancer Res Treat"},{"key":"B26","first-page":"3423","article-title":"The association between fatigue and pain symptoms and decreased physical activity after cancer","volume":"26","author":"Romero","year":"","journal-title":"Support Care Cancer"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1534735420925519","DOI":"10.1177\/1534735420925519","article-title":"A randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating changes in peripheral neuropathy and quality of life by using low-frequency electrostimulation on breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy","volume":"19","author":"Song","year":"2020","journal-title":"Integr Cancer Ther"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100871","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ctarc.2025.100871","article-title":"A randomized controlled trial: effects of compression therapy combined with exercise on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer","volume":"42","author":"Xiaoqian","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cancer Treat Res Commun"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"268","DOI":"10.1177\/09645284221125421","article-title":"Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer patients: a single-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial","volume":"41","author":"Chan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Acupunct Med"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e23748","DOI":"10.1097\/MD.0000000000023748","article-title":"Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pancreatic cancer related pain","volume":"100","author":"He","year":"2021","journal-title":"Medicine (Baltimore)"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"110453","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclinane.2021.110453","article-title":"Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation before surgery reduces chronic pain after mastectomy: a randomized clinical trial","volume":"74","author":"Lu","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Clin Anesth"},{"key":"B32","first-page":"16","article-title":"Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for cancer-related pain management in patients receiving chronic opioid therapy: a randomized clinical trial","volume":"32","author":"Lyu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Support Care Cancer"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1334","DOI":"10.4103\/jcrt.jcrt_2172_23","article-title":"Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for alleviating pain in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer","volume":"20","author":"Tian","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Cancer Res Ther"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"955","DOI":"10.1038\/s41416-021-01471-1","article-title":"Preventive effect of sensorimotor exercise and resistance training on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a randomised-controlled trial","volume":"125","author":"M\u00fcller","year":"2021","journal-title":"Br J Cancer"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2375","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0000000000002116","article-title":"Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors: consensus statement from international multidisciplinary roundtable","volume":"51","author":"Campbell","year":"","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4938","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20064938","article-title":"Multimodal physical exercise and functional rehabilitation program in oncological patients with cancer-related fatigue-A randomized clinical trial","volume":"20","author":"Fernandez-Rodriguez","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"B37","first-page":"9","article-title":"Effectiveness of three exercise programs and intensive follow-up in improving quality of life, pain, and lymphedema among breast cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled 6-month trial","volume":"31","author":"Lin","year":"","journal-title":"Support Care Cancer"},{"key":"B38","first-page":"149","article-title":"A systematic review of rehabilitation and exercise recommendations in oncology guidelines","volume":"71","author":"Stout","year":"","journal-title":"CA Cancer J Clin"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jphys.2020.12.008","article-title":"Multidisciplinary, exercise-based oncology rehabilitation programs improve patient outcomes but their effects on healthcare service-level outcomes remain uncertain: a systematic review","volume":"67","author":"Dennett","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Physiother"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"pzab287","DOI":"10.1093\/ptj\/pzab287","article-title":"Physical therapists in oncology settings: experiences in delivering cancer rehabilitation services, barriers to care, and service development needs","volume":"102","author":"Brennan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Phys Ther"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29323","DOI":"10.56083\/RCV3N12-231","article-title":"Pr\u00e1ticas integrativas da enfermagem aplicadas ao cuidado de pacientes oncol\u00f3gicos","volume":"3","author":"de P Rocha","year":"2023","journal-title":"Revista Contempor\u00e2nea"},{"key":"B42","author":"Song","year":""}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fresc.2026.1680725\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]],"date-time":"2026-02-02T06:33:16Z","timestamp":1770013996000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fresc.2026.1680725\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]]},"references-count":42,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fresc.2026.1680725"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fresc.2026.1680725","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-6861"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-6861","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]]},"article-number":"1680725"}}