Supervised Exercise for Bone Cancer

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Valerae O. Lewis, BS,MD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Cognitive disorder, Neurological disorder, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

Duration: 4 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether supervised exercise can boost physical fitness before surgery in patients with surgically removable bone cancer. Participants are divided into two groups: one participates in supervised exercise sessions while wearing a Fitbit, and the other only wears a Fitbit. The goal is to determine if exercise can improve patients' fitness before surgery. The trial seeks patients newly diagnosed with a bone tumor who are scheduled for surgery, provided they are also receiving chemotherapy for at least four weeks before their operation and are willing to wear a Fitbit. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding how exercise might enhance surgical outcomes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that supervised exercise is safe for patients with bone cancer?

Research has shown that supervised exercise is generally safe for people with bone conditions. In studies involving patients whose cancer has spread to their bones, exercise proved to be safe and beneficial. Very few serious problems were linked to exercise, and none related to bone issues.

Another study reported no problems when specific exercises were performed correctly. Experts agree that exercise is safe for most people with cancer in their bones. Supervised exercise not only reduces tiredness but also improves the overall quality of life for cancer patients.

These findings suggest that supervised exercise can be a safe option, even for those with bone cancer, as long as it is done with proper guidance. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about supervised exercise for bone cancer because it's a non-invasive approach that may improve patient outcomes by enhancing physical strength and overall well-being. Unlike traditional treatments like chemotherapy or surgery, which directly target cancer cells, supervised exercise focuses on boosting the body's resilience and recovery capacity. Patients in the trial wear a Fitbit to track progress and engage in regular, guided physical therapy sessions, which may help reduce treatment side effects and improve quality of life. This approach is unique because it integrates technology with physical activity to provide a holistic benefit, offering a complementary method to traditional cancer therapies.

What evidence suggests that supervised exercise is effective for improving physical fitness in bone cancer patients?

Studies have shown that supervised exercise can be safe and beneficial for people with bone cancer, even for those whose cancer has spread to the bones. Research indicates that exercise can enhance mobility and overall quality of life. It also helps maintain bone strength by increasing bone mineral density, which is crucial for cancer patients. Exercise might also enhance the body's ability to fight cancer. In this trial, one group of participants will undergo supervised exercise sessions, while another group will use a Fitbit to track activity. Overall, these findings suggest that exercise could improve fitness before surgery for bone cancer. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Valerae O. Lewis

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for patients newly diagnosed with primary bone tumors who are planning to have surgery and will receive at least 4 weeks of chemotherapy before the operation. They must be willing to wear a Fitbit and get their main cancer treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Those with neurological or structural issues that prevent safe exercise, severe co-morbid illnesses, or cognitive disorders affecting safety adherence cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

I am willing to wear a Fitbit.

I have been newly diagnosed with a bone tumor and will undergo surgery.

I will get chemotherapy for at least 4 weeks before my surgery.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients who have a cognitive disorder which impacts the ability to follow directions or adhere to safety rules; this will be determined by the physical therapist by assessing whether a neurological disorder or musculoskeletal disorder would prevent the patient from safely exercising

Any patient who, in the opinion of the investigators, will be unable to comply with a supervised exercise regimen

Any concurrent co-morbid illness and/or infection which in the opinion of the investigators could make the patient unable to comply fully with the trial procedures

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo supervised physical therapy exercise sessions over 40 minutes 3-5 times a week for at least 4 weeks

4 weeks

12-20 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in tumor vascularity and other biomarkers

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Supervised Exercise

Trial Overview

The study is testing whether supervised exercise can improve physical fitness in bone cancer patients before they undergo surgery. Participants will engage in an exercise regimen while wearing an activity monitor (Fitbit) to track their progress.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Group II (fitbit) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients wear a fitbit.

Group II: Group I (supervised exercise) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients wear a fitbit and undergo supervised physical therapy exercise sessions over 40 minutes 3-5 times a week for at least 4 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving 57 prostate cancer patients with bone metastases showed that a multimodal exercise program significantly improved self-reported physical functioning and lower body muscle strength after 3 months, compared to usual care.

The exercise program was safe, with no reported exercise-related adverse events or skeletal fractures, indicating that supervised exercise can be beneficial for patients with bone metastases without increasing the risk of complications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise Preserves Physical Function in Prostate Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases. Galvão, DA., Taaffe, DR., Spry, N., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 26 trials involving cancer survivors showed that various forms of exercise (aerobic, resistance, and mixed-mode) significantly improve bone mineral density (BMD) outcomes, particularly in the whole body, hip, and femoral neck.

The study supports the recommendation of exercise as an effective intervention for preventing bone loss in cancer survivors, with most trials being supervised and lasting from 12 weeks to 2 years.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of exercise for improving bone health in cancer survivors - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Singh, B., Toohey, K.[2021]

Citations

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10046160/

Exercise Intervention for Bone Metastasis: Safety, Efficacy ...

Conclusions: Exercise therapy, whether delivered in person or remotely, is safe and efficacious for patients with bone metastases. Keywords: ...

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probiologists.com

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The role of exercise and physical activity in osteosarcoma ...

Exercise has been found to improve function, mitigate disability, enhance the anticancer immune system response, and improve quality of life for patients ...

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pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Participation in various modes (aerobic, resistance, mixed-mode and other) of supervised and unsupervised exercise is associated with improvements in BMD.

4.

ascopubs.org

ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP.21.00454

Exercise Recommendation for People With Bone Metastases

In the survey, most respondents agreed that exercise for people with bone metastases was safe (82%) and these individuals look to their health ...

5.

journals.sagepub.com

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/22104917241286062

The efficacy and safety of exercise in patients with bone ...

Guided training appeared safe in early-stage palliative cancer cases with bone metastasis. No significant change in physical function and quality of life was ...

6.

journals.lww.com

journals.lww.com/rehabonc/fulltext/2025/07000/the_safety_and_feasibility_of_exercise.2.aspx

The Safety and Feasibility of Exercise Intervention for...

Appropriately administered and prescribed isometric spinal stabilization exercises appear safe for adults with metastatic spine disease, as no adverse events ...

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nature.com

nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03143-y

Supervised, structured and individualized exercise in ...

These results demonstrate that supervised exercise has positive effects on physical fatigue and HRQOL in patients with MBC and should be recommended as part of ...

8.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1040842821002213

Exercise for individuals with bone metastases: A systematic ...

Few (n = 4, 0.5%) serious adverse events were attributed to exercise participation, with none related to bone metastases. Mixed efficacy results ...