As survival after cancer has improved, so has the need for rehabilitation to address its debilitating effects and the side effects of its treatment. Exercise-based rehabilitation assists cancer survivors to improve their physical and psychosocial functioning through addressing impairments, reducing symptom burden and providing support.

One goal of oncology rehabilitation is to improve physical activity levels. High levels of moderate-intensity physical activity are associated with improved cancer outcomes, including increased survival, reduced disease recurrence, and fewer side-effects such as fatigue.

However, cancer survivors often reduce their physical activity during treatment and have difficulty regaining their pre-morbid physical activity levels after treatment completion.