Home-Based, Telematic Gradual Exercise for Permanent Colostomy Patients: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Exercise Physiology
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Permanent colostomy necessitates significant physical and psychological adjustments.
• Patients frequently experience decreased physical activity, reduced quality of life, and kinesiophobia (fear of movement).
• Existing exercise guidelines for this population are inconsistent, lacking consensus on safe return to activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a 12-week home-based graded exercise program on physical activity, quality of life, kinesiophobia, exercise capacity, and self-efficacy in individuals with permanent colostomies.
• To establish evidence for effective exercise interventions in post-colostomy care.
• To inform clinical guidelines for safe and individualized activity resumption after colostomy surgery.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 51 adults with permanent colostomies, starting six weeks post-surgery.
• Participants were randomized (1:1) to either a 12-week home-based exercise program (including education, resistance, core, and aerobic training) or a control group receiving standard care.
• Primary outcomes measured included physical activity (steps/day), quality of life (Stoma-QoL), kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale), exercise capacity (6-Minute Walk Test), and self-efficacy.

Main Results:

• Data analysis is pending, as this is a prospective study.
• The study is designed to detect significant differences in primary outcomes between the intervention and control groups.
• Follow-up assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and six months will provide comprehensive data.

Conclusions:

• This trial represents the first structured assessment of a home-based graded exercise program for individuals with permanent colostomies.
• The findings are anticipated to demonstrate the efficacy of exercise in enhancing physical and psychological well-being for this patient group.
• Results will contribute to developing evidence-based clinical guidelines for post-colostomy activity management.