Article

Investigation of the feasibility and preliminary effect of a
short-term intensive preoperative exercise programme for elderly patients
scheduled for elective abdominal oncological surgery.
DESIGN: Single-blind
randomized controlled pilot study. SETTING: Ordinary hospital in the Netherlands.
SUBJECTS: Forty-two elderly patients (>60 years). INTERVENTIONS: Patients were
randomly assigned to receive a short-term intensive therapeutic exercise
programme to improve muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and functional
activities, given in the outpatient department (intervention group; n =22), or
home-based exercise advice (control group; n=20). MAIN MEASURES: Parameters of
feasibility, preoperative functional capacity and postoperative course. RESULTS:
The intensive training programme was feasible, with a high compliance and no
adverse events. Respiratory muscle endurance increased in the preoperative period
from 259 +/- 273 to 404 +/- 349 J in the intervention group and differed
significantly from that in the control group (350 +/- 299 to 305 +/- 323 J;
P<0.01). Timed-Up-and-Go, chair rise time, LASA Physical Activity Questionnaire,
Physical Work Capacity and Quality of Life (EORTC-C30) did not reveal significant
differences between the two groups. There was no significant difference in
postoperative complications and length of hospital stay between the two groups.
CONCLUSION: The intensive therapeutic exercise programme was feasible and
improved the respiratory function of patients due to undergo elective abdominal
surgery compared with home-based exercise advice.

Langue : ANGLAIS