Effect of pre-operative exercise training in resectable esophageal cancer- a feasibility study

The need for this study to evaluate the feasibility of supervised exercises for operable esophageal cancers and its effect on functional status. Patients will be evaluated before starting of any cancer treatment, after exercise intervention completion and post-operatively before discharge. All adults of any age diagnosed with esophageal cancer and planned for surgery and preoperative therapy, willing to give informed consent, willing to attend Physiotherapy department for exercises and who are fit to undertake mild to moderate exercise interventions will be included in the study. Patients with cognitive impairment, advanced disease, not able to complete baseline physical fitness test will be excluded. Physical fitness will be assessed on the basis of 6-minute walk test, grip strength, and spirometer while Quality of life will be measured by patient reported questionnaires such as EORTC QLQ-C-30 and EORTC QLQ-OES-18. (available in English, Hindi and Marathi)

After all the preliminary physical evaluations participants will be engaged in supervised exercise training under qualified Physiotherapist. This training will be given in the Physiotherapy department under controlled conditions for at least three days in a week for 12-14 sessions. Exercise session will include low intensity mixed type of exercises. Aerobic training will be given using active-passive trainer in the form of cycling while resistance exercises will be given using thera-tubing for both upper and lower limbs Pre and post vital parameters and Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) will be checked in every session. During rest of the day’s patients will be doing aerobic exercises in the form walking (on the basis of Borg rating of perceived exertion scale between 12-14) for at least 30 minutes as a home program along with conventional breathing exercises and spirometer. After supervised session home program will be given which includes walking and resistance training by using own body weight .Participants need to perform this exercises till surgery.