Effect of Prehabilitation on Recovery Outcomes in Post-Surgical Cervical Cancer Women

This parallel-group randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of a four-week multimodal prehabilitation programme on pelvic function and quality of life among women with cervical cancer undergoing radical hysterectomy. Thirty-nine eligible participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group received a supervised multimodal prehabilitation programme comprising aerobic exercise, pelvic floor muscle training, progressive resistance training, flexibility exercises, breathing exercises, and patient education for four weeks prior to surgery, while the control group received standard preoperative care. Following radical hysterectomy, both groups underwent an identical postoperative rehabilitation programme. Pelvic function was assessed using transabdominal ultrasound by measuring bladder base displacement during voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction. Pelvic floor symptoms were evaluated using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20), and health-related quality of life was assessed using a validated quality-of-life questionnaire. Outcome assessments were performed at baseline, four weeks before surgery prior to initiation of the intervention, and repeated four weeks after surgery. The study investigated whether a structured prehabilitation programme improved pelvic function, reduced pelvic floor-related symptoms, and enhanced postoperative quality of life compared with standard preoperative care among women undergoing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

Inclusion Criteria: * Women aged between forty and sixty years * Confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer * Preoperative diagnosis of early-stage cervical cancer * Planned to undergo radical hysterectomy * Ability to actively engage in pelvic floor and resistance training protocols * Willingness to participate in the study * Provision of written informed consent prior to inclusion Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of locally advanced or metastatic cervical cancer * Presence of cardiopulmonary comorbidities limiting exercise tolerance * Active urinary tract infection at the time of assessment * Cognitive impairments interfering with understanding or compliance with the intervention * Any medical condition contraindicating participation in structured exercise programs