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Head and Neck NeoplasmsTARGETNCT02647021

Therapeutic Resistance Group Exercise Training for Head & Neck Cancer Survivors

A study testing Therapeutic Exercise and Therapeutic + Lower Body Exercise in people with Head and Neck Neoplasms and Accessory Nerve Injury, run by University of Alberta at 1 site in Canada.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial examining 12-week, 24-week and one year outcomes from a combined therapeutic and physical exercise program that aims to bridge head-and-neck cancer survivors from acute care rehabilitation services to community-based exercise programming. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Therapeutic Exercise and Therapeutic + Lower Body Exercise
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
31 Mar 2016to 30 Mar 2020
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Squamous cell carcinoma/ thyroid cancer/ melanoma or lymphoma involving: oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx or hypopharynx, or lymph nodes in the neck region
  • Surgical treatment includes radical neck dissection, modified radical neck dissection and other variants of functional/selective neck dissection OR radiation therapy to lymph node regions
  • Presenting with shoulder and/ or neck dysfunction related to cancer treatment
  • Karnofsky Performance Status greater than or equal to 60%
  • No evidence of residual cancer in the neck and no distant (M0) metastasis. Potential participants with symptoms suggestive of distant metastasis (M1) must have appropriate investigations (e.g. bone scan) to rule these out.
  • Participants must have completed their head and neck/ thyroid/ melanoma/ lymphoma cancer treatment (minimum 4 weeks post treatment)
  • Pre-participation Screening: Prior to participation in the exercise program, potential participants will complete general and cancer-specific Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaires (PAR-Q+) to determine appropriateness for the exercise program. Physician consent and approval for supervised exercise will be required prior to enrollment.

Who cannot join

  • A participant will be ineligible if they present with medical illness or psychiatric illness, which, in the opinion of the investigators, would impact his/her ability to participate in exercise or interfere with follow-up.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Canada1 site
  • University of Alberta/ Cross Cancer Institute

    Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G4

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Evaluating Outcomes From a Combined Supervised Therapeutic and Physical Exercise Program for Post-surgical Head and Neck Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial examining 12-week, 24-week and one year outcomes from a combined therapeutic and physical exercise program that aims to bridge head-and-neck cancer survivors from acute care rehabilitation services to community-based exercise programming.

Read the detailed description

Participants will be stratified by early (within 18 months of surgery) and late (> 18 months of surgery) and randomized on a one-on-one basis to (1) a supervised therapeutic exercise program for the neck and shoulder (serving as standard care) or (2) a combined therapeutic and lower body resistance exercise program. The randomization sequence will be generated by staff in the Rehabilitation Research Centre at Corbett Hall and placed in sealed opaque envelopes.

The exercise program will be offered in a group setting. Participants will exercise 2 times per week for a 10-week session and will have the option to continue for an additional 10-week maintenance session. The primary outcome for the study will be quality of life as measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-Fatigue Scale at 12-weeks.

At each measurement point following the baseline assessment, including the 12-week and 24-week and one year follow-ups, an Independent Assessor will perform the objective fitness measurements. The Independent Assessor will also administer the Neck Dissection Impairment Questionnaire and the FACT-Fatigue quality of life questionnaires. The Physical Activity Adherence Diary will be collected by a Research Coordinator at each follow-up visit.

Being tested
Therapeutic Exercise, Therapeutic + Lower Body Exercise
Keywords
physical therapy, cancer rehabilitation, exercise
Medical subject headings
Head and Neck Neoplasms, Accessory Nerve Injuries, Fatigue, Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Therapeutic ExerciseBehavioural

    A specialized therapeutic exercise program to address neck and shoulder dysfunction due to spinal accessory nerve damage.

  • Therapeutic + Lower Body ExerciseBehavioural

    A combined therapeutic exercise program (as per the comparison arm) plus the addition of lower body resistance exercise

Study groups in NCT02647021
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Therapeutic ExerciseActive comparatorTherapeutic Exercise Program (standard care) will include: 1. Neck range of motion and strengthening, and posture retraining. 2. Shoulder specific progressive resistance exercise program that focuses on spinal accessory nerve dysfunction and rehabilitation of trapezius muscle function.
Receives: Behavioral: Therapeutic Exercise
Therapeutic + Lower Body ExerciseExperimentalThe Therapeutic Exercise Program (standard care) will include: 1. Neck range of motion and strengthening, and posture retraining. 2. Shoulder specific progressive resistance exercise program that focuses on spinal accessory nerve dysfunction and rehabilitation of trapezius muscle function. The Resistance Exercise component will target 6-8 muscle groups of the lower extremities and core including gluteal, quadriceps, hamstrings, abdominals, and gastrocnemius muscles. A progressive introduction of exercises will occur over the first 3 weeks. 1. a personalized program of lower extremity resistance exercises 2. core strengthening exercises
Receives: Behavioral: Therapeutic Exercise; Behavioral: Therapeutic + Lower Body Exercise

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: Fatigue Scale Questionnaire

    Cancer related fatigue

    Measured: change from baseline to 12 weeks.

Secondary outcomes (13)
  1. Shoulder range of motion in degrees.

    Active and passive glenohumeral joint range of motion using standard 12 inch goniometer.

    Measured: Change from baseline to one year

  2. Body mass index

    Derived from height and weight of the participant.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks.

  3. 1 repetition maximum (1RM) strength for seated row in pounds.

    The maximal amount weight that can be pulled (seated row) and pushed (vertical bench) with proper form.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 12 weeks.

  4. Neck Range of Motion in degrees.

    Measures of neck flexion, side flexion, rotations and extension using myrin goniometer.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 12 weeks.

  5. Upper extremity muscular endurance: number of repetitions performed.

    Maximal repetitions to fatigue based on 50% of 1 repetition maximum strength for seated row.

    Measured: baseline, 12-weeks, 24-weeks, one year

  6. Lower extremity flexibility in centimetres.

    Sit and reach test

    Measured: Change from baseline to 12-weeks.

  7. Functional capacity

    6 minute walk test

    Measured: Change from baseline to 24 weeks.

  8. Neck Dissection Impairment Index

    Neck dissection related quality of life

    Measured: Change from baseline to one year.

  9. Grip strength in pounds.

    Maximal grip strength: composite score of both hands. Best of three attempts for each side.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 12-weeks.

  10. 1 repetition maximum leg press in pounds

    The maximal amount of weight that can be moved with proper

    Measured: Change from baseline to 12 weeks.

  11. 1 repetition maximum chest press in pounds.

    The maximal amount of weight that can be pushed with proper form.

    Measured: Change from baseline to 12 weeks.

  12. 30 second sit to stand (optional: in lieu of leg press)

    number of repetitions performed in 30 seconds

    Measured: Change from baseline to 12 weeks.

  13. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Questionnaire Trial Outcome Index

    The composite score of physical, functional and fatigue subscales of the questionnaire.

    Measured: Baseline to 12-weeks.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Jan 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study start31 Mar 2016
  3. Primary completion15 Mar 2020
  4. Study completion30 Mar 2020

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
60 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02647021
Sponsor's protocol ID
HREBA.CC.15-0167
Acronym
TARGET
Status last verified
Dec 2023
First submitted
28 Dec 2015
Last updated
3 Jan 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Therapeutic Exercise and Therapeutic + Lower Body Exercise in people with Head and Neck Neoplasms and Accessory Nerve Injury, run by University of Alberta at 1 site in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Jan 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: Fatigue Scale Questionnaire (time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Jan 2024.

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