The course of physical fitness and nutritional status in patients following prehabilitation before esophageal cancer surgery: Results from the PRIOR study.

Introduction: This study evaluates the course of physical fitness and nutritional status during curative therapy for esophageal cancer, after implementation of a prehabilitation program. Additionally, the impact of baseline physical fitness level and severe postoperative complications on the course of individual patients were explored.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter, observational cohort study included patients with esophageal cancer following curative treatment.

Development and external validation of preoperative clinical prediction models for postoperative outcomes including preoperative aerobic fitness in patients approaching elective colorectal cancer surgery.

Introduction: Preoperative aerobic fitness is associated with postoperative outcomes after elective colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. This study aimed to develop and externally validate two clinical prediction models incorporating a practical test to assess preoperative aerobic fitness to distinguish between patients with and without an increased risk for 1) postoperative complications and 2) a prolonged time to in-hospital recovery of physical functioning after elective colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery.

Materials And Methods: Models were developed using prospective data from 256 patients and externally validated using prospective data of 291 patients.

Identification of subgroups of patients with oesophageal cancer based on exercise intensity during prehabilitation.

Purpose: To identify subgroups of patients with oesophageal cancer based on exercise intensity during prehabilitation, and to investigate whether training outcomes varied between subgroups.

Materials And Methods: Data from a multicentre cohort study were used, involving participants following prehabilitation before oesophagectomy. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using four cluster variables (intensity of aerobic exercise, the Borg score during resistance exercise, intensity of physical activity, and degree of fatigue).

The Association Between Preoperative Inspiratory Muscle Training Variables and Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Subjects With Esophageal Cancer.

Background: Preoperative inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is frequently used in patients waiting for major surgery to improve respiratory muscle function and to reduce the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Currently, the mechanism of action of IMT in reducing PPCs is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the associations between preoperative IMT variables and the occurrence of PPCs in patients with esophageal cancer.

Effects of Exercise during Chemo- or Radiotherapy on Immune Markers: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Patients with cancer receiving radio- or chemotherapy undergo many immunological stressors. Chronic regular exercise has been shown to positively influence the immune system in several populations, while exercise overload may have negative effects. Exercise is currently recommended for all patients with cancer.

Physical activity monitoring during hospital stay: a validation study.

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the concurrent validity of the PAM AM400 accelerometer for measuring physical activity in usual care in hospitalized patients by comparing it with the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective single centre observational study performed at the University Medical Centre Utrecht in The Netherlands. Patients admitted to different clinical wards were included.

Impact of curative treatment on the physical fitness of patients with esophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Esophageal cancer and curative treatment have a significant impact on the physical fitness of patients. Knowledge about the course of physical fitness during neoadjuvant therapy and esophagectomy is helpful to determine the needs for interventions during and after curative treatment. This study aims to review the current evidence on the impact of curative treatment on the physical fitness of patients with esophageal cancer.

A 4-week exercise and protein program improves muscle mass and physical functioning in older adults - A pilot study.

Background: Prehabilitation might attenuate common surgery-induced losses in muscle mass and physical performance. Beneficial effects of physical exercise with protein supplementation have been reported in older adults, but typically after an intervention of at least 12 weeks. The time-window for pre-surgery training is often limited to around 30 days, and it is not known if it is possible to achieve comparable results in such a short time window.

Feasibility of preoperative supervised home-based exercise in older adults undergoing colorectal cancer surgery - A randomized controlled design.

Preoperative physical exercise is emerging as a growing field of research globally. There are still challenges in recruiting vulnerable older people, and time constraints in preoperative cancer care to consider. We therefore evaluated the feasibility of short-term supervised home-based exercise in older people prior to colorectal cancer surgery.

Association Between Preoperative Vitamin D Status and Short-Term Physical Performance after Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective Study.

Background: Insufficient serum vitamin D concentrations (50-75 nmol/L) are prevalent in 40-65% of patients who require total hip arthroplasty (THA). This could impair physical recovery after surgery. This study investigated the association between preoperative vitamin D status and physical performance after THA.

Personal meaning in relation to daily functioning of a patient in physical therapy practice: narratives of a patient, a family member, and physical therapist.

Purpose: To get insight into personal meaning of a person involved in a physical therapy intervention.

Methods: Mrs. A, a 76-year-old woman is referred to a physical therapist (PT) for assessment of functioning and training before total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Contextual explanations for numeracy and literacy skill disparities between native and foreign-born adults in western countries.

Using new direct measures of numeracy and literacy skills among 85,875 adults in 17 Western countries, we find that foreign-born adults have lower mean skills than native-born adults of the same age (16 to 64) in all of the examined countries. The gaps are small, and vary substantially between countries. Multilevel models reveal that immigrant populations' demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, employment, and language proficiency explain about half of the cross-national variance of numeracy and literacy skills gaps.

[Improving pre- and perioperative hospital care : Major elective surgery].

Surgery is aimed at improving a patient's health. However, surgery is plagued with a risk of negative consequences, such as perioperative complications and prolonged hospitalization. Also, achieving preoperative levels of physical functionality may be delayed.

An increase in physical activity after colorectal cancer surgery is associated with improved recovery of physical functioning: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The influence of physical activity on patient-reported recovery of physical functioning after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery is unknown. Therefore, we studied recovery of physical functioning after hospital discharge by (a) a relative increase in physical activity level and (b) absolute activity levels before and after surgery.

Methods: We included 327 incident CRC patients (stages I-III) from a prospective observational study.

The Influence of Muscle Weakness on the Association Between Obesity and Inpatient Recovery From Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: There is ongoing discussion about whether preoperative obesity is negatively associated with inpatient outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim was to investigate the interaction between obesity and muscle strength and the association with postoperative inpatient recovery after THA.

Methods: Preoperative obesity (body mass index [BMI] >30 kg/m) and muscle weakness (hand grip strength <20 kg for woman and <30 kg for men) were measured about 6 weeks before THA.

Preoperative prediction of inpatient recovery of function after total hip arthroplasty using performance-based tests: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of conventional factors, the Risk Assessment and Predictor Tool (RAPT) and performance-based functional tests as predictors of delayed recovery after total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Method: A prospective cohort study in a regional hospital in the Netherlands with 315 patients was attending for THA in 2012. The dependent variable recovery of function was assessed with the Modified Iowa Levels of Assistance scale.

Merits of exercise therapy before and after major surgery.

Purpose Of Review: Advances in medical care have led to an increasing elderly population. Elderly individuals should be able to participate in society as long as possible. However, with an increasing age their adaptive capacity gradually decreases, specially before and after major life events (like hospitalization and surgery) making them vulnerable to reduced functioning and societal participation.

Preoperative home-based physical therapy versus usual care to improve functional health of frail older adults scheduled for elective total hip arthroplasty: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a home-based intensive exercise program to improve physical health of frail elderly patients scheduled for elective total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Design: Single-blind pilot randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Patients' homes and a general hospital in The Netherlands.

The effects of preoperative exercise therapy on postoperative outcome: a systematic review.

Objective: To summarize the current evidence on the effects of preoperative exercise therapy in patients awaiting invasive surgery on postoperative complication rate and length of hospital stay.

Data Sources: A primary search of relevant key terms was conducted in the electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, PEDro and CINAHL.

Review Methods: Studies were included if they were controlled trials evaluating the effects of preoperative exercise therapy on postoperative complication rate and length of hospital stay.

Preoperative therapeutic exercise in frail elderly scheduled for total hip replacement: a randomized pilot trial.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of therapeutic exercise before total hip replacement in frail elderly.

Design: A single-blind, randomized clinical pilot trial.

Setting: Outpatient physiotherapy department.

The intergenerational transmission of divorce in cross-national perspective: results from the Fertility and Family Surveys.

We used data on women's first marriages from the Fertility and Family Surveys to analyse the intergenerational transmission of divorce across 18 countries and to seek explanations in macro-level characteristics for the cross-national variation. Our results show that women whose parents divorced have a significantly higher risk of divorce in 17 countries. There is some cross-national variation.

Prevention of pulmonary complications after upper abdominal surgery by preoperative intensive inspiratory muscle training: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and effects of preoperative inspiratory muscle training on the incidence of atelectasis in patients at high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications scheduled for elective abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.

Design: Single-blind randomized controlled pilot study.

Setting: Gelderse Vallei Hospital Ede, the Netherlands.