Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42892687›Full record

ArticlePerioperative medicine (London, England)2026

Early implementation of exercise to facilitate recovery after elective colorectal surgery-a randomized clinical pilot trial.

Maike Hermann, Lisa Kusma, Niki Taebi, Tabea Kluge, Carina Mueller, Vanessa Orth, Maximilian Moeller, Carolin Ecker, Svetlana Hetjens, Julia Hardt and 2 more

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Article in Perioperative medicine (London, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Maike HermannDepartment of Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany. maike.hermann@umm.de.
Lisa KusmaDepartment of Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.
Niki TaebiDepartment of Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.
Tabea KlugeDepartment of Physical Therapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.
Carina MuellerDepartment of Physical Therapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.
Vanessa OrthDepartment of Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.
Maximilian MoellerDepartment of Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.
Carolin EckerDepartment of Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.
Svetlana HetjensDepartment of Medical Statistics and Biomathematics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.
Julia HardtDepartment of Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.
Christoph ReissfelderDepartment of Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany.
Steffen SeyfriedDepartment of Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68167, Germany. steffen.seyfried@umm.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEarly mobilization is a key component of enhanced recovery after elective colorectal surgery. This pilot trial evaluated the safety and feasibility of an early supervised postoperative exercise intervention in addition to standard care.

methodsIn this single-center randomized controlled pilot trial, 31 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery were randomized to an intervention group (n = 16) or control group (n = 15). One patient withdrew after randomization, leaving 30 patients for modified intention-to-treat analysis. The intervention consisted of individualized, physiotherapist-supervised exercise sessions on postoperative days 1, 3, and 5. The control group received standard postoperative care according to the institutional ERAS protocol. The originally registered primary endpoint was time to first bowel movement; prior to final analysis, safety and feasibility were designated as the primary outcomes in accordance with the pilot nature of the study. The change was documented transparently. Secondary outcomes included physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB], handgrip strength), time to first bowel movement, patient-reported outcomes, and postoperative complications.

resultsThirty patients completed the study (retention 96.8%). Adherence to the intervention was 100%, and no intervention-related adverse events occurred. The intervention group showed significantly better preservation of physical performance, reflected by a more favorable change in SPPB score from baseline to postoperative assessment. No significant between-group differences were observed for time to first bowel movement, handgrip strength, postoperative complications, or other secondary outcomes.

conclusionsEarly supervised postoperative exercise after elective colorectal surgery was safe and feasible. Although no differences were found for most secondary outcomes, the intervention improved postoperative physical performance. These exploratory findings warrant confirmation in adequately powered randomized trials.

trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00036327 (retrospectively registered, 22.04.2025).

Indexed as

Colorectal cancerColorectal surgeryERASPersonalized medicinePhysical therapy

Identifiers

PMID42892687
PMCPMC13675950

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.