Table 2 Summary of preoperative exercise therapy regimens
From: Preoperative exercise therapy for gastrointestinal cancer patients: a systematic review
Study | Groups | Length of therapy | Frequency | Duration | Intensity | Follow-up | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carli et al. | Biking/strengthening | 59.0 days* | Daily | 20–45 min | ≥ 50% MHR. Volitional fatigue within 8–12 repetitions. | 2–4 m | ↔Functional walking capacity before surgery ↑ Functional walking capacity in controls 4 weeks after surgery ↔ Length of stay ↔ Postoperative complications ↔ QOL |
Walk/breathing | 45.4 days* | Daily | 40–45 min | 2–4 m | |||
Cho et al. | Aerobic/resistance training, stretching | 4 weeks | 3–7/week | NR | NR | 1 year | ↓ BMI, Body weight, abdominal circumference, volume of visceral fat ↓Postoperative complications ↓ Length of stay |
Matched controls in database | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | ||
Dronkers et al. | Aerobic exercise, resistance training, IMT | 2–4 weeks | Daily | 30–60 min | 55–75% MHR, 11–13 on Borg Scale | NR | ↑ Respiratory muscle endurance in preoperative period ↔ Time-up-and-go, chair rise time, LASA Physical Activity Questionnaire, physical work capacity, and quality of life ↔ Postoperative complications ↔ Length of stay ↔ QOL |
Home-based exercise advice | 2–4 weeks | Daily | ≥ 30 mins | NR | NR | ||
Gillis et al. | Aerobic/resistance training, nutritional therapy, relaxation exercises before and after surgery | 4 weeks pre-op, 8 weeks post-op | ≥ 3/week | 50 mins | ≥ 40% HRR, 8–12 repetitions | 8 weeks | ↑ Functional walking capacity before surgery, and at 8 weeks post-op ↑ Recovery to baseline ↔ Postoperative Complications ↔ Length of stay ↔ QOL |
Aerobic/resistance training, nutritional therapy, relaxation exercises after surgery | 8 weeks post-op | ≥ 3/week | 50 mins | ≥ 40% HRR, 8–12 repetitions | 8 weeks | ||
Kaibori et al. | Aerobic exercise, diet therapy | ≤ 1 month pre-op, 6 months post-op | 3/week | 60 mins | NR | 6 m | ↓Body mass, fat mass ↓Serum insulin, insulin resistance ↑AT VO2, peak VO2 |
Diet therapy | ≤ 1 month pre-op, 6 months post-op | NA | NA | NA | 6 m | ||
Kim et al. | Aerobic exercise | 4 weeks | Daily | 20–30 min | 40–65% HRR | 4 weeks | ↓Heart rate, oxygen consumption ↑Peak power output ↔Functional walking capacity |
Standard care | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4Â weeks | ||
Li et al. | Aerobic/resistance training, diet therapy, relaxation exercises | 21–46 days | 3/week | 30 mins | 50% MHR; volitional fatigue | 8 weeks | ↑Functional walking capacity at 4 weeks and 8 weeks postoperatively ↑ Recovery to baseline ↔Postoperative complications ↔ Length of stay ↑ QOL |
Standard care | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8Â weeks | ||
West et al. | Aerobic exercise | 6 weeks | 3/week | 40 mins | Intervals at 80% pVO2 work rate at θL and 50% of the difference between in work rates between pVO2 and VO2 at θL | 6 weeks | ↓ VO2 at θL after NACRT ↑ VO2 at θL after exercise |
Dunne et al. | Aerobic exercise | 4 weeks | 12 sessions | 30 mins | Interval training alternating at less than 60% pVO2 at peak and more than 90% pVO2 at peak | 4 weeks | ↑ VO2 at AT and peak after exercise ↑ Mental and overall QOL |
Standard care | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4Â weeks | ||