Effect of Dance-based Multimodal Exercise for Managing CIPN in Cancer Patients

June 2, 2026 updated by: Lau Ka Yan, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Effects of Dance-based Multimodal Exercise Programme for Managing Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Solid Tumors: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a significant and distressing symptom experienced by cancer patients with different cancer types. Systematic reviews demonstrate that exercise is an effective non-pharmacological strategy for managing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in cancer patients. Multimodal exercise was found to be superior to a single-modality exercise programme. However, the lack of using Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skill (IMB) model and addressing the social motivation component in current multimodal exercise programmes for cancer patients with solid tumors.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effects of a 6-week dance-based multimodal exercise program on CIPN symptoms over a 3-month period, comparing outcomes with usual care in cancer patients with solid tumors.

Methods: An assessor-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial with process evaluation will be conducted at Community Cancer Centers/ Community Centers and Non-governmental organizations. A total of 76 participants will be recruited, with both intervention and control groups receiving educational booklets and logbooks. The intervention group will engage in a 6-week dance-based multimodal exercise program, supplemented by goal-setting evaluations and motivational messaging. The control group will receive weekly exercise videos and motivational messages. Outcomes, including CIPN severity, quality of life, pain, balance, exercise knowledge, motivation, self-efficacy, and adverse effects, will be measured using validated tools at baseline, immediately post-intervention, 4 weeks post-intervention, and 12 weeks post-intervention. Process evaluation will explore perceived benefits, program awareness, and facilitators and barriers to adherence.

Conclusion: This study aims to provide an evidence-based approach for managing CIPN in cancer patients through a dance-based multimodal exercise program. It underscores the importance of incorporating the IMB model to enhance exercise adherence and support self-management of CIPN in cancer survivors.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

76

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients was diagnosed with malignant solid tumor (s) which is defined as abnormal, cancerous masses of tissue, for example, all carcinomas (such as breast cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer and gynecological cancer, lung cancer and so on), sarcomas and lymphomas
  • Patients experience CIPN symptoms
  • Patients are able to use smart phone and WhatsApp
  • Patients are able to read or understand Chinese.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Cancer patients suffer from severe organ failure or diseases that limit their level of activity
  • Patients are diagnosed with non-chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, such as sciatica and diabetic neuropathy
  • Patients receive treatments that affect the severity of neuropathy, such as steroid, anticonvulsants and antidepressants
  • Patients age below 18 years old
  • Patients have cognitive impairments.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: dance-based multimodal exercise
Upon recruitment, participants will receive the exercise educational booklet and logbook. This study applies the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model in a six-week Zumba Gold dance program for cancer survivors. Each weekly 75-minute session includes vital sign checks, 50 minutes of multimodal exercise (warm-up, workout, cool-down), and group sharing. Dance styles taught are Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia, Belly dance, Flamenco, Tango, and cool-down, with revision in later sessions. Videos with safety guidance are shared via WhatsApp for home practice. Chair-based options are available for those with balance issues. Motivational support and tele-consultation by an oncology nurse provide ongoing guidance and symptom management to enhance self-efficacy in CIPN care.
Behavioral: dance-based multimodal exercise
This study applies the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model in a six-week Zumba Gold dance program for cancer survivors. Each weekly 75-minute session includes vital sign checks, 50 minutes of multimodal exercise (warm-up, workout, cool-down), and group sharing. Dance styles taught are Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia, Belly dance, Flamenco, Tango, and cool-down, with revision in later sessions. Videos with safety guidance are shared via WhatsApp for home practice. Chair-based options are available for those with balance issues. Motivational support and tele-consultation by an oncology nurse provide ongoing guidance and symptom management to enhance self-efficacy in CIPN care.
Active Comparator: Exercise education
Control group participants will receive an educational booklet and logbook, plus weekly WhatsApp exercise videos recommended by the Department of Health, HKSAR (Elderly Health Service, 2025) during the first six weeks. They are encouraged to follow NCCN and ACSM guidelines for cancer survivors: at least 150 minutes of moderate activity weekly, or 75 minutes vigorous, with warm-up and stretching before sessions. Stretching should occur on two non-resistance days, and resistance training 2-3 times weekly (2-3 sets of 10-15 reps, 2-3 minutes rest). For CIPN survivors, balance training is emphasized, with alternatives like cycling or water exercise. Encouragement messages follow in weeks 10 and 14.
Behavioral: Exercise education
Control group participants will receive an educational booklet and logbook, plus weekly WhatsApp exercise videos recommended by the Department of Health, HKSAR (Elderly Health Service, 2025) during the first six weeks. They are encouraged to follow NCCN and ACSM guidelines for cancer survivors: at least 150 minutes of moderate activity weekly, or 75 minutes vigorous, with warm-up and stretching before sessions. Stretching should occur on two non-resistance days, and resistance training 2-3 times weekly (2-3 sets of 10-15 reps, 2-3 minutes rest). For CIPN survivors, balance training is emphasized, with alternatives like cycling or water exercise. Encouragement messages follow in weeks 10 and 14.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Time Frame: from enrollment to 12 weeks after the intervention
In the main randomized control trial, the primary outcome is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity subscale (FACT/GOG-Ntx) subscale contains 11 items measuring the CIPN symptoms on a 5-point Likert scale (from 0= not at all to 4= very much) . A higher score indicates the worse CIPN symptoms .
from enrollment to 12 weeks after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neuropathic pain
Time Frame: from enrollment to 12 weeks after the intervention
Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions (DN-4) contains ten items in four questions with dichotomous answers (Yes=1; No= 0) assessing the symptoms, associated symptoms and the aggregating factors of neuropathic pain in cancer patients.
from enrollment to 12 weeks after the intervention
Quality of Life in cancer patients
Time Frame: from enrollment to 12 weeks after the intervention
European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ C30) contains of 30 items assessing five functioning (physical, role, emotional, cognitive and social), nine symptom burdens (fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea and financial difficulties) and one global health status using 4-likert scale (from 1= not at all to 4= very much), except two items in global health status using the 7-point scale (from 1= very poor to 7= excellent) . Higher scores in functioning subscales indicate better functioning; while higher scores in symptom subscales indicate higher level of impairment .
from enrollment to 12 weeks after the intervention
Anxiety
Time Frame: from enrollment to 12 weeks after intervention
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a self-reported measure consisting of 14 items, in which seven of them assess the anxiety level. Higher scores in anxiety subscale indicate the higher level of anxiety. Individuals have borderline anxiety when the overall anxiety subscale is 8-10. It would be considered as anxiety if overall anxiety subscale above 11.
from enrollment to 12 weeks after intervention
Balance
Time Frame: from enrollment to 12 weeks after intervention
Time up-to-go is used to assess cancer patients' gait and balance when changing positions from sitting to standing, turning, walking and from standing to sitting. The time taken that participants start from sitting on the chair, then standing and walking for 3m, followed by turning around and walking back, lastly sitting on the chair is recorded. Participants are asked to perform two trials. The quicker measurement is counted.
from enrollment to 12 weeks after intervention
Knowledge of exercise, exercise motivation and exercise self-efficacy
Time Frame: from enrollment to 12 weeks after intervention
Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument (PPLI) contains nine items measuring knowledge and understanding, self-expression and communication with others, and sense of self and self-confidence (Sum et al., 2018). Participants rate each item using 5-point Likert scale (from 1= strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree). Higher scores indicate better knowledge, motivation and self-efficacy in exercise skills
from enrollment to 12 weeks after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 27, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 2, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026.192

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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