Development and validation of structured preoperative exercise protocol for patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy

Vaginal hysterectomy is widely recognized as one of the least invasive surgical approaches for hysterectomy; however, despite its minimally invasive nature, it is still associated with several post-operative complications such as pain, reduced mobility, and urinary incontinence. While there is substantial evidence and a variety of exercise protocols available for patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, there remains a notable gap in research specifically addressing pre-operative exercise protocols for vaginal hysterectomy. To address this gap, the present study is designed in two phases. In the initial phase, the Delphi method will be employed to develop and validate a structured pre-operative exercise protocol with the guidance and consensus of a panel of experts. Following the validation process, the second phase will involve conducting an experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed protocol. Participants will be recruited from the Gynaecology Department of Sri Ramachandra Hospital and randomly allocated into two groups. The control group will receive standard pre-operative care as routinely practiced, while the experimental group will undergo the structured pre-operative exercise protocol developed through the Delphi method. The outcomes will then be systematically analyzed and compared between the two groups to determine the impact of the protocol on post-operative recovery and associated complications.