Walking and Sitting Difficulties After Rectal Cancer Surgery

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Targeted leaderled training program: Training program: After inclusion and consent the patients are instructed through an online group training program consisting of specific training of levator, abdominal, quadriceps (all portions), and gluteal muscles as well as endurance training. They are given information about WHO recommendations about physical activity. The patients are asked to sign up for two specific training occasions per week where no group will be larger than 10 patients. Group based exercise sessions consist of 45-minute supervised online zoom exercise sessions. Apart from the supervised sessions patients are encouraged to perform one functional training session, unsupervised, as well as follow the WHO recommendation for aerobic exercise

Control arm with WHO recommendation on physical activity: Training will be in accordance with WHO recommendations of 30 min aerobic physical activity five times per week (150 min per week) plus strength sessions twice weekly. The patients will be individually adviced on how to perform the training at inclusion in the trial. This is considered standard care and will not include any on-line supervision, but will include a coaching/reminder by a phone call from a research nurse/short message service (by choice of the patient) at regular intervals before and after surgery

Study summary

Earlier studies have shown that many patients (up to 30%) who have had a major surgery for rectal cancer, called a rectum amputation (where the entire rectum and anus are removed and the person gets a permanent stoma), still have trouble sitting and walking three years after the surgery. These problems are then seen as long-term or chronic.

WASA is a randomized multicenter international study that will test a way to reduce these problems. It will start in fall 2025 and go on for 3.5 years. About 300 patients will take part.

The patients will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will get guided online training twice a week, specially made for their needs. The other group will get information about the World Health Organization's (WHO) general advice on physical activity.

The idea is that special training during the first year after surgery will reduce problems with walking and sitting. If the hypothesis can be confirmed, it could lead to an easy and low-cost way to help many rectal cancer patients feel and function better.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Can a specific physical online training program decrease sitting and walking difficulties 12 months after abdominoperineal excision for rectal cancer compared with standard care (self-administered aerobic training according to WHO recommendations only)? — 12 months
  Patient reported sitting and walking difficulties by validated questions in questionnaire with items from "no difficulties" to "severe difficulties".

Trial sites (1)

More Sahlgrenska University Hospital trials in Sweden

Other trials for the same condition