A trial using exercise to help with the side effects of prostate cancer surgery
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This trial looked at the effect of resistance exercise training (RET) in men who have had surgery to remove their prostate gland.
The trial was open for people to join between 2017 and 2018. The team published the results in 2021.
More about this trial
Doctors often treat prostate cancer with an operation to remove the prostate. This is called a radical prostatectomy. Some men who have had prostate surgery have side effects such as urinary incontinence, impotence, pain, depression or tiredness.
They are also sometimes less active. This can cause them to lose muscle tone and gain fat.
When this trial was done, research had already shown that resistance exercise can help people to feel less tired and less depressed. It can also have other health benefits and improve quality of life.
The main aim of this trial was to see if resistance exercise could help with the health and well being of men who’d had surgery for prostate cancer.
Summary of results
The research team found that resistance exercise training may be useful for men who have had surgery for prostate cancer.
Trial design
This trial was for men who’d had surgery to remove their prostate (a radical prostatectomy). They were put into one of two groups. One group had the usual care and follow up after surgery. The other group followed a specific exercise plan.
The exercise group were asked to do resistance exercise training (RET) 3 times a week for about 6 months. They did this with guidance in a room at the hospital to begin with. And then at home, with telephone support if they needed it. Each session was 20 to 30 minutes long.
Results
A total of 42 men took part in this trial. They were put into a group at random. There were:
- 20 men in the resistance exercise training group
- 22 men in the standard care group
The research team looked at various markers of health and well being when the men joined the trial. And then 3 months and 6 months later. They compared the results to see if the men in the exercise group had any benefits.
They found that the men in the exercise group had improvements in:
- body weight
- percentage of body fat
- arm and leg strength
- quality of life
They found there was no difference between the groups for:
- cardiovascular fitness
- resting blood pressure or pulse
- levels of tiredness
Side effects
One person in the exercise group had a shoulder injury. But this could have been because he did harder exercises than he was advised to.
Conclusion
The research team concluded that men who have their prostate removed can benefit from resistance exercises. And that the exercises are safe to do, and easy to follow at home.
They suggest that doctors discuss this with men in the weeks following their operation.
Where this information comes from
We have based this summary on information from the research team. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (
]) and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team who did the research. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Prof John Saxton
Supported by
The Freeman Hospital
University of Northumbria at Newcastle upon Tyne
Tackle Prostate Cancer
The Urology Foundation
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
