Endurance training alone was found to increase both lower extremity strength and endurance capacity .
Colorectal cancer surgery results in considerable postoperative morbidity , mortality and reduced quality of life .
As many patients will undergo additional (neo)adjuvant therapy , it is imperative that each individual optimize their physical function .
To eluci date the potential of exercise in patient optimization , we investigated the evidence for an exercise program before and after surgical treatment in colorectal cancer patients .
A Phase I Study Examining the Feasibility and Safety of an Aerobic Exercise Intervention in Patients With Rectal Cancer During and After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.
PURPOSE / OBJECTIVES To assess the feasibility and safety of an aerobic exercise intervention in patients with rectal cancer during and after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy ( NACRT ) .  . DESIGN A prospect i ve , single-group design with assessment s at pre-NACRT , post-NACRT , and presurgery . . SETTING The Cross Cancer Institute and University of Alberta in Edmonton , Canada . . SAMPLE 18 patients with rectal cancer scheduled to receive long-course NACRT followed by definitive surgery . . METHODS Participants received a supervised moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program three days per week during six weeks of NACRT followed by an unsupervised aerobic exercise program for 150 minutes or more per week for 6 - 8 weeks prior to surgery . . MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Eligibility rate , recruitment rate , follow-up rate , exercise adherence , serious adverse events , health-related fitness outcomes , and patient-reported outcomes . . FINDINGS Follow-up rates post-NACRT were 83 % for health-related fitness outcomes and 94 % for patient-reported outcomes . Patients attended a median of 83 % of their supervised exercise sessions and completed a mean of 222 minutes per week ( SD = 155 ) of their unsupervised exercise . No serious adverse events were observed or reported . Most health-related fitness outcomes and patient-reported outcomes declined during NACRT and recovered after NACRT . . CONCLUSIONS Aerobic exercise is feasible and safe for patients with rectal cancer during and after NACRT . . IMPLICATION S FOR NURSING Patients with rectal cancer are able to engage in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise during NACRT
Endurance training alone was found to increase both lower extremity strength and endurance capacity .
Colorectal cancer surgery results in considerable postoperative morbidity , mortality and reduced quality of life .
As many patients will undergo additional (neo)adjuvant therapy , it is imperative that each individual optimize their physical function .
To eluci date the potential of exercise in patient optimization , we investigated the evidence for an exercise program before and after surgical treatment in colorectal cancer patients .