Home-Based Exercise Program to Improve Physical Function Before Surgery in Bladder and Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer Patients

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to study the benefits of a personalized home-based exercise program to improve physical function and surgical outcomes in patients with bladder cancer and upper tract urothelial carcinoma undergoing major surgery such as radical cystectomy or nephroureterectomy. The trial focuses on patients with these cancers who may also receive chemotherapy before surgery. Improving physical activity before surgery might help reduce inactivity and physical decline after the operation. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group uses the ExerciseRx app to perform four 20-30 minute home exercise sessions per week, including core strength and balance exercises, along with personalized step goals, starting at least 4 weeks before surgery and continuing for 90 days after surgery. These patients also wear a FitBit and use its app. The other group receives standard educational materials and wears a FitBit with its app but does not follow the exercise program. Both groups may receive chemotherapy as part of their standard care before surgery. Throughout the study, patients are followed from enrollment through surgery and for 90 days afterward, totaling about 4 to 7 months. Researchers measure changes in physical function, frailty, body composition, patient-reported quality of life, and surgical outcomes such as length of hospital stay and complications. The study also tracks how well patients stick to the exercise program and their experience using the ExerciseRx app, with monitoring via FitBit devices and questionnaires. Surgical outcomes and safety are carefully observed during this period.

A Home-Based Prehabilitation Exercise Intervention for Improving Physical Function in Patients With Bladder Cancer and Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer, Get Moving Trial