Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2025
Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery
Published on: September 27, 2024
Effects of Exercise on Motivational Outcomes in Rectal Cancer Patients During and After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation: A
Fernanda Z Arthuso1, Andria R Morielli1, Nawaid Usmani2
1Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Objectives:
Understanding exercise motivation in rectal cancer patients during and after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy is important to improve adherence and achieve potential benefit. We report the motivational effects of exercise from the Exercise During and After Neoadjuvant Rectal Cancer Treatment trial.
Data Sources:
We randomized 36 rectal cancer patients to supervised high-intensity interval training during neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy followed by unsupervised moderate-to-vigorous exercise after therapy, or usual care. Using the theory of planned behavior, we assessed motivation, perceived benefits/harms, and perceived barriers for exercise during and after therapy. Supervised exercise during neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy was experienced as meaningfully (d≥0.33) more controllable (p=0.08, d=0.60), more enjoyable (p=0.25, d=0.45), and less difficult (p=0.45, d=-0.38) than anticipated. Unsupervised exercise after therapy was experienced as meaningfully more enjoyable (p=0.047, d=0.50) and less difficult (p=0.43, d=-0.36), but also less controllable (p=0.14, d=-0.80) than anticipated. Common self-reported benefits of exercise both during and after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy were cardiovascular endurance, physical functioning, and quality of life. Common self-reported harms were exacerbation of treatment side effects. Frequently reported barriers to exercise during therapy were side effects of treatment, whereas exercise barriers after therapy were lack of motivation and lingering side effects.
Conclusion:
Exercise during and after therapy generally had positive effects on exercise motivation, however, perceived harms and barriers related to treatment side effects were identified.
Implications For Nursing Practice:
Nurses can help rectal cancer patients initiate and maintain exercise during and after neoadjuvant chemoradiation by discussing the potential benefits, harms, and barriers to exercise.
More Related Videos
07:26Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
12:45Robot-assisted Total Mesorectal Excision and Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection for Locally Advanced Middle-low Rectal Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:29Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists
Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine...
01:21Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
01:25Assessment of the Rectum and Anus
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...