Exercise oncology during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: Are virtually supervised exercise interventions a sustainable alternative?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, new challenges are presented in clinical research settings to increase exercise levels, particularly in vulnerable populations such as cancer survivors. While in-person supervised exercise is an effective format to improve patient-reported outcomes and physical function for cancer survivors, the COVID-19 pandemic limited this form of exercise as a feasible option within research and cancer care. As such, exercise oncology interventions were adapted to home-based instruction. In this review, we examine the current evidence of exercise interventions in cancer populations during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified that group-based virtually supervised home-based exercise was the most used format among exercise oncology interventions during the pandemic. Preliminary results support feasibility and effectiveness of this emerging exercise setting in cancer survivors; however, it needs to be further investigated in adequately designed larger trials. Additionally, we provide recommendations and perspective for the implementation of virtually supervised home-based exercise. [Display omitted] • The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a transition to home-based exercise interventions in cancer survivors. • Virtually supervised group-based exercise interventions were the most common format among exercise oncology interventions during COVID-19. • Preliminary results suggest feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of virtually supervised exercise. • We provide recommendations and perspectives for the implementation of virtually supervised exercise in future exercise oncology trials. • There is a need to develop high-quality research in exercise oncology to support cancer survivors beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]