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Effects of Preoperative Physical Therapy in Patients With Lower Extremity Malignancy

A Pilot Study on the Effects of Preoperative Physical Therapy in Adolescents and Young Adults Diagnosed With a Lower Extremity Malignancy

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01674101
Enrollment
20
Registered
2012-08-28
Start date
2012-09-30
Completion date
2015-11-30
Last updated
2015-12-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Osteosarcoma, Ewing's Sarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Synovial Sarcoma, Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Sarcoma, Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of the Bone, Chondrosarcoma of the Bone

Keywords

Lower extremity malignancy

Brief summary

This application proposes a prospective clinical trial to evaluate the impact of adding a focused physical therapy (PT) intervention to the preoperative regimen of individuals diagnosed with a malignancy of the lower extremity (LE). The primary aim will be to determine if individuals diagnosed with a malignancy of the LE can participate in a 10 week preoperative strengthening, stretching, and aerobic exercise regimen.

Detailed description

The intervention group will receive PT 3 times per week for 60 minutes each session. The therapy sessions will include endurance, strengthening, and stretching exercises. Endurance exercises will consist of ambulating with assistive devices as needed, using the upper extremity (UE) ergometer, and/or playing the Wii. Strengthening exercises will involve both UE's and LE's. For UE's, bicep curls, triceps curls, shoulder flexion, and/or press-ups from the therapy mat or wheelchair will be included. For the LE's, bridging, long arc quads, hamstring curls, calf raises in standing, single LE squats, and/or dorsiflexion (DF) in supine will be performed on the uninvolved extremity. Resistance and exercise time will be increased depending upon participant's tolerance. Stretching will consist of ankle stretch into DF in supine or long sitting, hamstring stretch in supine with hip flexed to 90 degrees, and trunk extension in sitting. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE To determine if individuals diagnosed with a malignancy of the LE can participate in a 10 week preoperative strengthening, stretching, and aerobic exercise regimen.

Interventions

OTHEREndurance

Endurance exercise will consist of ambulating with assistive devices as needed, upper extremity (UE) ergometer, and/or playing the Wii.

Strengthening exercises will involve both UE's and LE's. For UE's, bicep curls, triceps curls, shoulder flexion, and/or press-ups from the therapy mat or wheelchair will be included. For the LE's, bridging, long arc quads, hamstring curls, calf raises in standing, single LE squats, and/or dorsiflexion (DF) in supine will be performed on the uninvolved extremity.

OTHERStretching

Stretching will consist of ankle stretch into DF in supine or long sitting, hamstring stretch in supine with hip flexed to 90 degrees, and trunk extension in sitting.

OTHERHome exercise program

All participants will be given a tailored home exercise program (HEP) including endurance exercises, strengthening, and stretching exercises to be completed on days they do not have PT. If the participants return home, they will be asked to complete the HEP at least 3 days per week. The physical therapist will contact the participant weekly to modify the HEP if necessary and determine compliance.

Sponsors

Tennessee Physical Therapy Association
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patient being treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital * Permission from participant's physician * Participants must be between the ages of 6 and 30 years of age * Patient is newly diagnosed with LE malignancy as shown by biopsy. Diagnoses include: osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the bone and chondrosarcoma of the bone, or any other LE malignancy that requires surgical intervention. * Patient has Karnofsky score ≥ 50 or WHO/ECOG ≤ 2 if ≥ 16 years of age * Lansky score ≥ 50 for patients age \< 16 * Surgical intervention is planned primary mechanism of local control * Negative pregnancy test * All patients and/or their parents or legal guardians must sign a written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with serious, non-healing wound, ulcer or bone fracture (other than pathologic fracture) * Pre-morbid condition that prevents patient from ambulating * Patients who do not have at least 10 weeks before receiving local control

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Feasibility of a 10 week physical therapy intervention programUp to 12 weeks post surgeryDetermine if individuals diagnosed with a malignancy of the LE can participate in a 10 week preoperative strengthening, stretching, and aerobic exercise regimen. We will consider the study to be feasible if at least 60% of the patients are able to complete at least 50% of their scheduled PT sessions.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026