If elderly patients wish to return to their daily lives
after radical prostatectomy (RP),they must recover
their general physical function. Thus, attention
should be directed toward exercise intervention, which is
essential in improving the physical and psychological
quality of life. Some Western studies have reported
that exercise intervention improves physical activity, reduces
fatigue, strengthens immune function, and improves
quality of life. It has also been reported that
postoperative Kegel exercises, as well as lower extremity
fitness, are helpful for achieving urinary continence.
Exercise interventions are classified as aerobic, resistance,
and flexibility exercises. Aerobic exercises are routinely
performed by walking, running, and bicycling and
have a major effect on the cardiovascular system. Resistance
exercise for muscle strength is effective in reducing
fatigue after the treatment of cancer and for increasing
muscle strength. Aerobic exercise also plays a role in
restoring mental health, such as recovery from depression,
after cancer treatment.
In Western society, where prostate cancer (PCa) commonly
occurs, studies have been conducted to examine
exercise interventions after hormonal therapy or radiotherapy
in the field of sports medicine. However, no
studies have reported the effects of exercise intervention performed after RP. Thus, we developed a 12-week program
that included resistance and flexibility exercises,
focusing on the pelvis and lower limbs, to improve overall
exercise ability. Furthermore, these effects might be
able to induce quality of life improvement and continence.
We conducted this randomized, controlled study
to obtain the effects of combined exercise intervention
on overall exercise ability, quality of life, and continence
status after RP in elderly patients with PCa.