OBJECTIVE: Various exercise modalities have been demonstrated to be effective in alleviating anxiety and depression among individuals with cancer. However, it remains unclear which specific exercise intervention is the optimal choice. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the impact of different exercise intervention types on anxiety and depression in individuals with cancer. METHODS: Eligible randomized controlled trials were identified through searches of PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCOHost, with the search period up to December 2024. Two researchers independently conducted the literature screening, data extraction, and assessment. Statistical analyses and visualizations were performed using Stata 15.0 software and RevMan5.4 software. RESULTS: A total of 26 randomized controlled trials (involving 2118 individuals with cancer) examining three types of exercise interventions were included. Compared to usual care, mind-body exercise (SMD -0.58, 95% CI -0.99 to -0.17), followed by resistance training (SMD -0.52, 95% CI -1.12 to 0.09), and aerobic exercise (SMD -0.51, 95% CI -0.89 to -0.13) significantly decreased depression levels among individuals with cancer. Additionally, resistance training (SMD -0.66, 95% CI -1.59 to 0.27), followed by aerobic exercise (SMD -0.59, 95% CI -1.08 to -0.10), and mind-body exercise (SMD -0.48, 95% CI -0.96 to 0.00) significantly decreased anxiety levels among individuals with cancer compared to usual care. CONCLUSION: The findings of this network meta-analysis suggest that mind-body exercise, resistance training, and aerobic exercise are all effective interventions for reducing anxiety and depression among individuals with cancer.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

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