Clinical trial · Interventional
Optimizing Physical Function Before Cancer Surgery in Older People at Risk
Optimizing Physical Function Before Surgery: Effects on Complications and Physical Function After Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery in Older People at Risk- A Randomized Controlled Trial
NCT04878185CI-TRIAL-00070643CanOptiPhysunknownN/AClinicalTrials.gov clinicaltrialsProvenance
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
This randomized controlled trial is a multicentre study designed to explore the effects of preoperative exercise on physical fitness, postoperative complications, recovery, and health-related quality of life in older individuals at risk scheduled to undergo colorectal cancer surgery. The hypothesis is that older patients with low preoperative physical capacity will benefit from preoperative exercise in terms of lower risk for postoperative complications and improved recovery after surgery.
Conditions
Conditions (2)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorectal Cancer | Malignant Colorectal Neoplasm | CURATED_BROADER | 0.80 |
| Postoperative Complications | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (1)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Exercise
- description
- A high-intensity, home-based, exercise program consisting of inspiratory muscle training (IMT), endurance- and functional strength exercise. The sessions will supervised by a physiotherapist during six occasions and start 2-3 weeks before surgery. IMT will be conducted with an intensity starting from 50 % of maximal capacity, with a self-reported effort of 5-7 on the Borgs CR-10 scale. Endurance and functional strength exercises will be performed at a self-reported effort of 7-8. Interval training, chair stand- and step-up exercises will be key components of the exercise program. Furthermore, the program will include task-specific exercises based on the participants self-expressed needs. On non-supervised days, participants will perform IMT twice a day as well as endurance and strength training, 2-3 days per week with 1-2 days per week of active recovery in the form of moderate intensity walks. This will be monitored with an activity journal and an accelerometer.
- interventionNames
- Other: Exercise
- type
- NO_INTERVENTION
- label
- Control group
- description
- Participants in the control group receive pre- and postoperative care as usual. In addition, they will be encouraged to follow the WHO guidelines of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity for at least 150 min per week. Their activity level will be monitored with an accelerometer.
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 65 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Scheduled surgery due to colorectal cancer or liver metastases from colorectal cancer * Age ≥65 * A maximal walking speed below 2 meters per second * Understands and speaks the Swedish language Exclusion Criteria: * Planned hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure or flap surgery * Health conditions that prevent participation in assessment or exercise. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, unstable heart disease, severe systematic illness or orthopaedic conditions that may prohibit exercise. * The need for surgery within 2 weeks * Permanent wheelchair user * Residence outside of Stockholm County
References
Publications (7)
- BACKGROUNDAmerican College of Sports Medicine; Chodzko-Zajko WJ, Proctor DN, Fiatarone Singh MA, Minson CT, Nigg CR, Salem GJ, Skinner JS. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Jul;41(7):1510-30. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181a0c95c. PMID 19516148
- BACKGROUNDTopp R, Ditmyer M, King K, Doherty K, Hornyak J 3rd. The effect of bed rest and potential of prehabilitation on patients in the intensive care unit. AACN Clin Issues. 2002 May;13(2):263-76. doi: 10.1097/00044067-200205000-00011. PMID 12011598
- BACKGROUNDKarlsson E, Egenvall M, Farahnak P, Bergenmar M, Nygren-Bonnier M, Franzen E, Rydwik E. Better preoperative physical performance reduces the odds of complication severity and discharge to care facility after abdominal cancer resection in people over the age of 70 - A prospective cohort study. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2018 Nov;44(11):1760-1767. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2018.08.011. Epub 2018 Aug 29. PMID 30201418
- BACKGROUNDAmerican College of Sports Medicine. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Mar;41(3):687-708. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181915670. PMID 19204579
- BACKGROUNDKatsura M, Kuriyama A, Takeshima T, Fukuhara S, Furukawa TA. Preoperative inspiratory muscle training for postoperative pulmonary complications in adults undergoing cardiac and major abdominal surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Oct 5;2015(10):CD010356. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010356.pub2. PMID 26436600
- DERIVEDDanielsson J, Engstrom Sid J, Andersson M, Nygren-Bonnier M, Egenvall M, Hagstromer M, Vossen LE, Dohrn IM, Rydwik E. Optimizing Physical Fitness Before Colorectal Cancer Surgery (CANOPTIPHYS): The Effect of Preoperative Exercise on Pre- and Postoperative Physical Fitness in Older people - A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Prim Care Community Health. 2025 Jan-Dec;16:21501319251346417. doi: 10.1177/21501319251346417. Epub 2025 Jun 17.