Aerobic Exercise and Guided Imagery in Low Anterior Resection Syndrome
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Exercise, guided imagery.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Rectal Cancer, Fecal Incontinence and Constipation, Aerobic Exercise, Guided Imagery Exercise. Basic parameters: 18 years — 65 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
"The Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Guided Imagery on Low Anterior Resection Syndrome After Rectal Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study"
Overview
Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) is a common complication after sphincter-preserving rectal cancer surgery and may negatively affect bowel function and quality of life. Although exercise has been shown to improve physical function and well-being in cancer survivors, evidence regarding its effects on LARS symptoms remains limited. This randomized controlled, multicenter study aims to evaluate the effects of an aerobic exercise program combined with guided imagery on bowel symptoms, quality of life, physical activity level, functional capacity, and psychological well-being in patients with LARS after rectal cancer surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving aerobic exercise and guided imagery in addition to standard care or a control group receiving standard care alone. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention period using validated clinical and patient-reported outcome measures. The findings of this study may contribute to the development of evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for improving bowel function and quality of life in patients with LARS following rectal cancer surgery.
Interventions
- Other Exercise
structured walking exercise, at the clinic and outside from the clinic for at least 3 days /week - Behavioral guided imagery
guided imagery for at least 3 days
Primary outcome measures
- Low Anterior Resection Sydrome scoring system [Time frame: "From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks"]
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire-30 [Time frame: 8 weeks from beginning the study]
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire-29 [Time frame: 8 weeks]
- 6 minutes walking test [Time frame: 8 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- colorectoanal distress inventory [Time frame: 8 weeks]
- wexner questionnaire [Time frame: 8 weeks]
- International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form [Time frame: 8 weeks]
- Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [Time frame: 8 weeks]
- pelvic floor muscle function via biofeedback [Time frame: 8 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Upper-Middle-Lower Rectal Cancer
- Having undergone surgery with TMJ
- Having a protective ileostomy and a closed stoma
- Being tumor-free according to laboratory reports (carcinoembryonic antigen), endoscopic findings, and abdominal ultrasonography and/or computed tomography data
- Having at least minor LARS scores ("between 21" and "42") according to the -LARS scoring questionnaire
- Having the ability to perform voluntary perineal traction contractions with perineal palpation
- Being a volunteer with informed consent
Exclusion criteria
- History of incontinence or defecation disorder not related to rectal cancer
- Having another type of surgery for rectal cancer (Hartmann procedure, abdominoperineal excision, transanal endoscopic microsurgical resection, or sigmoid resection)
- Deterioration in general health, neurological disease and/or physical disability
- BMI > 30 kg/m2 (obese individuals)
- Inability to answer questions or make interventions due to mental disorder
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
- Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital — Istanbul
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07732894 · Biruni.