This study is about preparing people with cancerous tumours, soft-tissue sarcoma (STS), in the leg to recover more quickly from surgery. Prehabilitation or "surgery school" is done before surgery while undergoing other cancer-related treatments. To test this idea, two groups will be formed. One group will have the prehabilitation program and the other group will have the same amount of attention from the research team who will visit them at the time of the radiotherapy sessions to provide support and any information they may need.The results of the study will indicate whether it is a good idea to conduct a bigger study that would involve many centres in Canada.
This study is about preparing people with cancerous tumours, soft-tissue sarcoma (STS), in the leg to recover more quickly from surgery. Prehabilitation or "surgery school" is done before surgery while undergoing other cancer-related treatments. The tumour can be anywhere in the leg so exercises must be specially designed for each person. This process is novel and therefore has to be tested to see if it is practical and if it helps people recovery more quickly. To test this idea, two groups will be formed. One group will have the prehabilitation program and the other group will have the same amount of attention from the research team who will visit them at the time of the radiotherapy sessions to provide support and any information they may need. Assessments of how well participants can do basic activities of daily living will be assessed at study entry, just prior to surgery and then at 2, 6 and 12 weeks after surgery. Other measures of recovery will be distance covered while walking for six minutes, quality of the walking, and how quickly participants can walk outdoors for 1000 steps, and then 3000, 5000 and 9000. The investigators will ask participants which of these outcome measures they think best reflected their recovery and why. The investigators will also assess whether people were willing to enter the study and complete all the processes required. The results of the study will indicate whether it is a good idea to conduct a bigger study that would involve many centres in Canada.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Personalized and individualized exercises for lower limb soft-tissue sarcoma of each participant in this group.
The focus for participants in the Informational Support Group will be on needs for information and psychosocial support during the pre-operative period.
Change in Toronto Extremity Salvage Score
self-report measure comprising 30 items (0-100; 0 worse, 100 better outcome)
Time frame: Assessments will be carried out prior to radiotherapy, pre-operatively, and at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post-operatively.
Change in Six-Minute Walk Test
Walking Capacity
Time frame: Assessments will be carried out prior to radiotherapy, pre-operatively, and at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post-operatively.
Daily step count
will be obtained using the native accelerometer/gyroscope and pedometers available on both iphone (iOS) and android devices. For example, the android connection is through Google Fit
Time frame: 12 weeks
Change in Gait Quality (Angular velocity, cadence, heel strike)
Obtained through device placed on the shoe of participants
Time frame: Assessments will be carried out prior to radiotherapy, pre-operatively, and at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post-operatively.
Change in Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale
7 symptoms including pain, fatigue, distress, and overall well-being (0-70; 0 better outcome; 70 worst outcome)
Time frame: Assessments will be carried out prior to radiotherapy, pre-operatively, and at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post-operatively.
Change in health related quality of life
Generic Quality of life (EQ-5D-5L)
Time frame: Assessments will be carried out prior to radiotherapy, pre-operatively, and at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post-operatively.
Change in individualized health related quality of life
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Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
30
Patient Generated Index
Time frame: Assessments will be carried out prior to radiotherapy, pre-operatively, and at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post-operatively.