Impact of Core Muscle Training on Incisional Hernia and Pain After Abdominal Surgery

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Physiotherapy: 4 specific core muscle exercises, targeting abdominal muscles, to be performed daily from postoperative day one to 2 months postsurgery.

Study summary

The current practice to avoid incisional hernia, one of the most frequent complications following abdominal surgery, is to minimize core muscle activity in the postoperative phase. However, there is no evidence to support the association of core muscle activity and increased incidence of incisional hernia. On the contrary, it is likely that reduced physical activity could lead to physical deconditioning, chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP), and sarcopenia. The investigators will conduct a prospective multicentric randomized clinical trial to compare standard of care to core muscle exercises targeting the abdominal muscles immediately postsurgery. The principle hypothesis is that neither specific exercises of core muscles before and after surgery nor physical restriction alter the incidence of incisional hernias. Secondly the impact of postoperative rehabilitation on CPSP and sarcopenia will be assessed.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Incidence of incisional hernia 24 months postsurgery — 24 months postsurgery
  Incidence of incisional hernia diagnosed by ultrasound and clinical examination

Trial sites (5)

More Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern trials in Germany

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