Mind-body exercise for symptom management in cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis and to evaluate changes in the mental health, physical symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer patients following mind-body exercise training. METHODS: As of February 2026, this study retrieved data from eight databases. Eventually, 19 randomized clinical trials using the mind-body exercise were conducted. This meta-analysis synthesized outcome indicators related to cancer symptoms to obtain pooled effect sizes. RESULTS: In this meta-analysis, interventions in mind-body exercise in terms of anxiety (standardized mean difference, SMD = -0.39, 95% CI -0.65 to -0.13), depression (SMD = -0.34, 95%CI -0.59 to -0.10), fatigue (SMD = -0.40, 95% CI -0.78 to -0.02), sleep (SMD = -0.60, 95% CI -1.15 to -0.05), and HRQOL (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI 0.17-0.60) are statistically significant when compared with usual care. The subgroup analysis indicated that a longer intervention period (≥ 8 weeks) might show stronger effects. Based on the intervention types, traditional Chinese exercise significantly improved anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and HRQOL, while yoga significantly reduced fatigue and also improved HRQOL. CONCLUSION: Mind-body exercise is an effective rehabilitation method for alleviating cancer symptoms, significantly improving mental health, physical symptoms and quality of life. They are suitable as non-pharmacological supplementary intervention measures for cancer patients and are recommended for wide application in clinical practice.