Abstract:

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common malignant tumor of the digestive tract, with its incidence rate increasing annually and showing a younger-age trend, imposing heavy health and economic burdens on society and families. Regular moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise has been demonstrated to significantly reduce the risk of developing CRC, alleviate complications and adverse reactions related to anti-tumor treatment, improve patients’ quality of life, and prolong survival. As a simple and economical non-pharmacological intervention, exercise plays a crucial role throughout CRC development and treatment by regulating inflammatory signals and promoting anabolic metabolism through multi-omics regulatory networks. This article reviewed the latest evidence from clinical and experimental studies, emphasizing the indispensability of exercise in the comprehensive management of CRC patients, and provided a summary analysis of relevant mechanisms. Future research should further investigate the specific impacts of various exercise types, intensities, and frequencies on CRC, combine them with clinical treatment methods such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and explore precision approaches under multimodal interventions to maximize clinical benefits.

Key words: Physical activity, Colorectal cancer, Outcomes, Molecular mechanism, Prevention and treatment