Feasibility of a remote and home-based personalised exercise programme in cancer survivors with lymphoedema

To assess the feasibility of fully remote assessments and exercise prescription within a 10-week individualised exercise programme for cancer survivors with lymphoedema and explore preliminary changes in physical fitness and lymphoedema-related outcomes.

This prospective cohort study was conducted in Ireland as part of the CAN-React Study and recruited cancer survivors with unilateral lymphoedema. Participants completed fully supervised remote baseline and post-intervention assessments, including lymphoedema severity and physical fitness (cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular strength, balance, flexibility, and mobility), and undertook a 10-week individualised home-based exercise programme. Feasibility outcomes included completion rate, adherence, and safety, while changes in physical fitness and lymphoedema-related outcomes were explored as preliminary findings.

A total of 27 participants were recruited (19 with upper-body and 8 with lower-body lymphoedema), of whom five with upper-body lymphoedema withdrew, including one due to an unrelated infection and lumbar vertebral abscess, which was deemed unrelated to the intervention. No other adverse events were reported. Overall programme completion was 81.5%, with adherence to weekly supervised online exercise sessions exceeding 80% and self-reported adherence to prescribed home exercises averaging approximately 75%. Exploratory analyses indicated potential improvements in physical fitness, including cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular strength, flexibility, and balance, alongside reductions in lymphoedema severity.

This study demonstrates the feasibility of a fully supervised, remotely delivered assessment and an individualised home-based exercise programme for cancer survivors with lymphoedema, with exploratory findings suggesting potential improvements in lymphoedema-related measures and physical fitness.