Effects of a Home-Based Exercise Program During Radiotherapy

Burak Ertürk24 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of exercise on individuals with head and neck cancer who are receiving postoperative radiotherapy. The study is based on three primary hypotheses: 1. Exercise may help reduce or prevent the loss of normal range of motion that can occur during radiotherapy. 2. Exercise may help maintain muscle strength or lead to improvements in muscle strength. 3. Exercise may help maintain or improve postural alignment.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer

Interventions

Home-based exercisePROCEDURE

The home-based rehabilitation approach was conducted for the patients, consisting of neck and upper extremity mobilization, strengthening, stretching, and breathing exercises, 5 days a week.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. * Undergoing unilateral neck dissection surgery. * Scheduled to receive curative radiotherapy. * Age 18 years or older. * Willingness to participate and ability to comprehend exercise instructions. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of distant metastasis. * Presence of a tracheostomy. * History of previous trauma or surgery involving the shoulder or cervical region. * Neurological disorders affecting upper quadrant function. Recurrence of disease during the study period.

Locations (1)

Gazi University, Faculty of Health Sciences

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Range of Motion

Range of motion of the cervical region will be assessed using a cervical range of motion (CROM) device, and shoulder range of motion will be assessed using a goniometer, including flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation, abduction, and external rotation.

Time frame: Baseline and Day 25 (end of radiotherapy)

Secondary Outcomes

Muscle Strength

Muscle strength of the cervical and shoulder girdle muscles will be evaluated using manual muscle testing.

Time frame: Baseline and Day 25 (end of radiotherapy)

Postural Alignment

Postural alignment will be assessed through observational postural analysis focusing on head, neck, and shoulder alignment.

Time frame: Baseline and Day 25 (end of radiotherapy)

Fibrosis Severity

Radiation-induced fibrosis will be evaluated using a standardized clinical fibrosis grading scale.

Time frame: Day 25 (end of radiotherapy)

Lymphedema

Head and neck lymphedema will be assessed using circumferential measurements and/or clinical lymphedema grading.

Time frame: Day 25 (end of radiotherapy)

Swallowing Function

Swallowing function will be evaluated using a validated swallowing assessment scale (Swal-QoL).

Time frame: Baseline and Day 25 (end of radiotherapy)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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