[Prehabilitation through physical activity in oncology]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Exercise Physiology

Context:

• Preoperative physical activity is recognized for reducing postoperative complications and enhancing recovery.
• However, patient-reported improvements from existing prehabilitation programs are suboptimal, affecting only about one-third of participants.
• Current program structures, including training load and generic session formats, appear to impede patient engagement.

Purpose:

• To highlight the necessity of individualizing prehabilitation interventions.
• To enhance functional capacities in patients undergoing treatment or surgery.
• To improve outcomes during the critical pre- and post-operative recovery phases.

Summary:

• Established role of preoperative physical activity in minimizing postoperative complications and accelerating patient recovery.
• Identified limitations in current prehabilitation programs, such as generic modalities and training loads, contributing to mixed results and low participation.
• Proposed individualization of prehabilitation as a strategy to optimize functional gains.

Impact:

• Personalized prehabilitation programs can significantly improve patient functional capacities.
• Optimized prehabilitation can lead to better recovery trajectories and reduced postoperative complications.
• Tailored interventions are crucial for maximizing the benefits of physical preparation for surgical and treatment recovery.