In-hospital Physiotherapy for Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world, and the cancer that causes the most number of deaths. In Sweden, about 3700 persons are diagnosed every year. About one fifth of the patients are eligible for surgery.

Patients undergoing thoracic surgery suffer from pain and low health related quality of life after surgery.

In Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, pre- and postoperative physiotherapy is routinely provided for patients undergoing thoracic surgery, but the effects have not been thoroughly investigated. The scientific evidence of the effect of physiotherapy in connection with lung surgery is limited. The treatment typically consists of early mobilisation, breathing exercises and exercises for the shoulders. Reeve et al has shown that a postoperative shoulder exercise program can improve function and decrease pain after thoracotomy. Breathing exercises has not been found effective in reducing the rate of postoperative pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of in-hospital physiotherapy treatment, for patients undergoing thoracic surgery, on physical activity, health related quality of life, pain and lung function.