Exercise recommendations for older adults living with and beyond cancer: A consensus statement by the Advancing Capacity to Integrate Exercise Into the Care of Older Cancer Survivors expert panel

BACKGROUND: The number of cancer survivors aged older than 65 years is rising rapidly. Current evidence-based exercise guidelines lack specific guidance for older cancer survivors as a result of insufficient evidence. An expert panel was convened to develop consensus-based recommendations for exercise in older cancer survivors. METHODS: The development of recommendations was guided by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation Evidence-to-Decision framework for good practice statements. The panel drew from the available literature, a Delphi survey of exercise and health professionals, other exercise guidelines, clinical and research expertise, and interest-holder input provided by a community advisory board of older cancer survivors and caregivers (n = 11). Recommendations had to be deemed accessible (i.e., no added barriers) to older cancer survivors and feasible to implement. The panel voted on the strength of the recommendation for or against each statement, with consensus set at 85% agreement. RESULTS: Consensus was reached on 11 recommendations covering the following areas: medical evaluation/clearance for exercise, pre-exercise assessment, exercise prescription, exercise tolerance and safety, exercise delivery, and behavioral support. The recommendations aimed to promote engagement in and uptake of appropriately prescribed exercise programming by older cancer survivors, while keeping barriers and risks as low as possible. CONCLUSIONS: Older cancer survivors can benefit from appropriately prescribed exercise, which should be an essential component of their cancer care. Exercise and health professionals need to consider the unique needs of older cancer survivors to ensure that exercise is safe and effective for this population, while also reducing barriers to reach as many people as possible.