APTA Oncology - Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) 2026 Platform and Poster Presentations

PLATFORM PRESENTATIONS EFFECTS OF A PREHABILITATION PROGRAM IN HEPATOPANCREATOBILIARY AND ESOPHAGOGASTRIC CANCER PATIENTS AFTER SURGERY JA Smith, L Adler, P Schaa, and G Washington PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: Despite advancements, 35% of patients undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery experience postoperative complications. Neoadjuvant chemo is often also necessary to prolong overall survival. Patients may develop sarcopenia, cachexia, and malnutrition related to treatment/diagnosis, causing 11% to experience major complications. This patient population may significantly benefit from a prehabilitation program to optimize their post-operative recovery. The study aimed to identify effectiveness of a standardized prehabilitation program on improving post-surgical outcomes and complications when compared to control. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: The retrospective study included participants undergoing abdominal procedures including esophagectomies, pancreatectomies, and liver/intestinal surgeries from 2023 to Feb 2025. 29/70 prehab program participants completed pre- and post-program testing. 70 participants participated in a standardized prehabilitation program. The control group of 289 participants did not participate in the program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants underwent a supervised 1-hour program per week until surgery and completed the program at least 1x/day outside of supervised visits. Compliance monitored by knowledge of program and patient report. Exercises were standardized without modifications unless required for safety. The resistance level and rate of progression was individualized for each participant. The outcome measures assessed were chosen based on APTA oncology recommendation and included: NCCN-FACT FHSI-18 (version 2), Peak Expiratory Flow via mini-wright meter, 6-Minute Walk Test with vitals, and Fullerton Balance Assessment. The surgical outcomes utilized to compare experimental and control after procedure were: 30-, 60-, 90- day mortality/readmission, Clavien-Dindo, surgical duration, and length of stay. RESULTS: On average, patients walked 152.79’ further in the post-test and had a 50.22 L/sec greater peak expiratory flow after completing the prehabilitation program. Despite a small sample size, findings of improvement correlated with minimal change in vitals. An increased 6 MWT distance combined with stable vital response would indicate improved cardiovascular function. Readmission, ICU admission, and length of stay were also analyzed. Though the ICU admission and length of stay were similar between the two groups, there was a 40-50% reduced risk of readmission at the 30- and 90-day assessment for the exercise group. CONCLUSIONS: A standardized prehabilitation exercise program may result in cardiovascular improvements and correlate to better post-surgical outcomes in these patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Due to a small sample size, results should be interpreted with caution but warrant further investigation of this standardized prehabilitation program. The novelty of this program when compared to other prehabilitation programs is the intensity and standardization of a structured exercise program versus a generalized, non-specific program most commonly found in the literature. More research on this exercise program via a prospective study is recommended and planned. ASSESSING EFFECTIVENESS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR MALE URINARY INCONTINENCE AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY FOR PROSTATE CANCER CR Kono, GV Varatkar, and S Hite PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common side effect reported after undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP), a surgical intervention for individuals with prostate cancer. In the current literature, incidence rates of post-surgical UI are reported to be close to 80%. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes of physical therapy (PT) interventions for male UI after RP. It hypothesized that PT intervention would be beneficial in the restoration of continence and improving overall quality of life for this population. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: 60 MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in an outpatient oncology rehabilitation setting. 60 participants who underwent RP for prostate cancer and were referred to PT for UI management were included. Participants presenting to outpatient PT for UI completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI) and provided self-reported data on urinary frequency (daytime and nighttime), pad usage, and pad saturation levels. These measures were collected at the initial evaluation and at discharge, when possible, to assess the severity of UI and measure treatment outcomes. Participants were categorized by age, cancer stage, additional treatments received, interval between surgery and PT initiation, and the number of PT sessions completed. PT intervention focused on strengthening and improving the endurance of the pelvic floor muscles in both static positions and functional whole-body tasks. The program included education on integrating bladder training and behavior modification strategies into daily activities. RESULTS: Significant reduction in pad usage and pad saturation was observed across all patient groups during both daytime and nighttime. Additionally, reduction in urinary frequency was evident in the majority of groups. All observed improvements were statistically significant, as indicated by paired t-tests with p-values < 0.001. Among the participants with complete ICIQ-UI data at both baseline and discharge, a significant decrease in scores was noted (p = 0.005), surpassing the threshold for minimal clinically important difference. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic floor physical therapy effectively improved UI outcomes in RP patients across all age groups, cancer stages, types of treatments received and duration from surgery, resulting in reduced urinary frequency, pad usage, and pad saturation. Improvements in ICIQ-UI scores further reflected a decrease in UI severity and enhancement in the patient’s quality of life. These findings support the value of PT interventions in the management of post-prostatectomy UI. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Limited research exists to examine the effect of pelvic floor rehab intervention on outcomes related to restoring continence in the post-radical prostatectomy population. This study introduces exploratory research that assesses the outcomes from a pelvic floor oncology rehab program. Furthermore, it sets the stage for higher quality research to assess long term outcomes and improve standardization of pelvic floor rehab programs. DO BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS ROUTINELY MEET PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES FROM PRE-DIAGNOSIS TO POST-TREATMENT? LP Blanchard and M Cammarata PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to examine whether breast cancer physical during treatment and and to identify whether significant across these to were assessed NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: breast cancer MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants completed a their cancer and self-reported of during and and to Participants their of and intensity exercise per and number of per week of the of and for participants were as not for exercise and for and for overall both and were Participants were as data were provided to whether were were Test with was to assess across the and for for to physical were from data and compared between who and did not RESULTS: were in with data for all all most did not overall during as compared to both and = was significant in between and (p = results were found when and and during as compared to both and = = = = was significant in between and = = and not similar to as of and of these were often as in not CONCLUSIONS: This study that most breast cancer are not overall both and cancer who were to their decrease during but to after CLINICAL RELEVANCE: and other should to support patients in their cancer PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CANCER SURVIVORS AND and S PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to develop and compare to to physical cancer hypothesized that clinically physical therapy identify individuals at risk for NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: cancer from the and MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective was was based on the of for were by a PT for and in PT A of (p < and reduced this to and functional data were by for and for and were in an was the and was to identify RESULTS: The the = = = by = and = The included education and function. A reduced these = = the of a clinically CONCLUSIONS: in cancer A reduced the similar to the CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings support the of into to physical and other identify cancer at risk for physical This may intervention strategies and exercise in AND OF IN BREAST AND A and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: Patients for breast cancer are at risk for and breast on on and breast may also this study aimed to examine the between quality of life and in patients with and breast and identify treatment that risk of breast NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: age who had surgery for breast cancer MATERIALS AND METHODS: were from an at a in the and provided with a and breast were assessed with the at standardized were the and to this and at most as indicated by The was by the on the and the was on the A was and when greater indicated outcomes were the of the and and of included surgical procedure versus and of RESULTS: scores were correlated with = = at the most on the breast were significantly correlated with scores = but not with significant by surgery (p = procedure (p = (p = of treatment = = CONCLUSIONS: is with in patients with and breast greater of and breast are with higher of statistically significant breast cancer treatment related risk were CLINICAL RELEVANCE: assessment may as a for and breast and into may for effectiveness of intervention strategies to better and breast IN PATIENTS G and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: a common surgery for and bladder is on patients who often functional and sarcopenia, a to and as an risk for overall in this population be assessed measures of a and by with and in surgical oncology patients are also to increased risk of reduced quality of and in cancer patients that be correlated with functional outcome measures in bladder cancer patients undergoing NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: patients who underwent and were for between 2023 and were included in this MATERIALS AND METHODS: to patients completed the 6-Minute Walk Test and and via and were to assess the between functional measures and RESULTS: Participants were male and = the patients all completed the who was that higher was significantly with better (p = indicated that each in to additional was not significantly correlated with (p = 6 MWT (p = that higher are with 6 MWT CONCLUSIONS: In this a of and was significantly with on the an of and functional A is to whether the 6 MWT a with and greater to support CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The between and functional the value of a assessment to risk and improve postoperative and quality of life in patients undergoing Additionally, may as a to identify patients at increased risk for complications and to functional IN PHYSICAL OF CANCER and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: rehabilitation is in physical therapy (PT) rehabilitation is at treatment side it is not required in PT this current may the knowledge to effectively these The purpose of the study was to examine knowledge and in when rehabilitation for patients who had cancer. of knowledge and in this population. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: age PT for in MATERIALS AND METHODS: This and and was via with data included in and with cancer intervention and rehabilitation The was via and were conducted RESULTS: of reported patients are often referred for rehabilitation each in rehabilitation programs patients on therapy and cancer was for and and for and pelvic floor had knowledge to individuals with training is were of including the and the on and assessment for CONCLUSIONS: are common in both current patients and a knowledge physical Participants of and with in rehab but had were of cancer rehabilitation CLINICAL RELEVANCE: of knowledge cancer rehabilitation to be to this population. oncology into and close this This study the for education to for patients with cancer. IN S and P PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: therapy the treatment of patients with these often a of including physical at the of physical as by the and is of a of the in the of at and during a patient’s and related to and therapy commonly utilized in the treatment of these In this the of and at the of admission for treatment to identify most at risk for outcomes at NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: MATERIALS AND METHODS: All age for at from were for physical by a physical and in with for these The outcome was length of stay with in the the outcome assessed by severity and and were included in the was by of in the and RESULTS: were the with a age of were and and were the most common and were the most common The was with of and received Despite and assessed as = and were in and of was In both the and in the each of distance an in of when for and severity at admission CONCLUSIONS: who are functional based at admission are to a length of stay. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: a physical therapy of at admission may of at risk for and may physical interventions with the of PHYSICAL THERAPY AND S M P M G and M PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: therapy is for after treatment as and result in ICU admission, Limited data physical to with study patients to on the had a higher risk of and These findings the to evaluate whether physical therapy (PT) risk and overall hypothesized that PT measures treatment would be with and survival. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: patients who received MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective included patients who underwent PT evaluation between included and and and and to endurance and and of an assessed with and were by was with and RESULTS: The was age in of patients. with included to complete and as to on the increased risk increased risk higher including for during and Patients with increased risk increased risk These findings baseline physical may and after CONCLUSIONS: and were of distance and were the of CLINICAL RELEVANCE: data by and patients at higher risk for and survival. PT into may patient and research should whether prehabilitation and complications AND IN A OF CANCER and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: with a of cancer as compared to of the age, not are undergoing but also into is to of in this population are reported in with the between and are The purpose of this study was to compare and between with cancer and and assess between and in this population. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: between the of 6 and were for the study including with a of cancer and MATERIALS AND METHODS: Balance was the Test of Balance and was the Test of in Balance A was to assess during two of with and as as during testing. severity was and of life was the RESULTS: with cancer had significantly as compared to and had greater during with their (p = = of with a of cancer had significantly quality of life (p = severity was significantly correlated with = = and quality of life = = CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate with cancer should be assessed for to in should the of rehabilitation and interventions on improving and in with a of both during and after of cancer CLINICAL RELEVANCE: and should be in with a of cancer. These measures may to in this and these to physical therapy AND A and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: the most side effect of cancer all individuals with cancer their is by that by and daily and quality of life. is on intervention effectiveness and This knowledge the of treatment The purpose of this study was to and on interventions to and improve NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: participants with current MATERIALS AND METHODS: An was the and with participants via The collected data on current interventions received, of and intervention Participants completed the via cancer support groups, of and from a cancer RESULTS: were and were with breast cancer the most common of current was the was received treatment from compared to physical modification and were the most common interventions received from strategies exercise and were similar but at higher modification and were most exercise and recommendation effectiveness of strategies was = not = CONCLUSIONS: Significant in intervention with of to effectiveness of current interventions exercise by both and the for education and of CLINICAL RELEVANCE: should assess and in all of as current of significant the effectiveness of current integrating interventions into management improve outcomes and quality of life. PHYSICAL AND CANCER M and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: cancer improved exercise and quality of life after completing the and resistance exercise intervention compared to the control group and to there is of these based on level of physical function. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is a included age stage prostate and of participants received sessions and supervised resistance training sessions focused on increased and resistance control participants received on and of of this study physical by and exercise and of physical RESULTS: The sample = were a of 70 and of the participants were with breast prostate and cancer with a cancer of groups improvements in scores at of study (p = The intervention group had higher with an of at compared to the control group of with scores improved exercise by an of at of study compared to baseline both groups. was an in exercise in both groups, with scores by on both groups reported improved the intervention group with higher the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention was found to be an intervention in improving and physical in and may improved participants with scores into the of that be with This of intervention in in the and of CLINICAL RELEVANCE: experience in physical and in at higher but physical improve the overall and of these of cancer treatment with be to exercise with of and exercise also an important in to exercise and be by support benefit from support with as the IN PHYSICAL OF CANCER and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: rehabilitation is in physical therapy (PT) rehabilitation is at treatment side it is not required in PT this current may the knowledge to effectively these The purpose of the study was to examine knowledge and in when rehabilitation for patients who had cancer. of knowledge and in this population. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: age PT for in MATERIALS AND METHODS: This and and was via with data included in and with cancer intervention and rehabilitation The was via and were conducted RESULTS: of reported patients are often referred for rehabilitation each in rehabilitation programs patients on therapy and cancer was for and and for and pelvic floor had knowledge to individuals with training is were of including the and the on and assessment for CONCLUSIONS: are common in both current patients and a knowledge physical Participants of and with in rehab but had were of cancer rehabilitation CLINICAL RELEVANCE: of knowledge cancer rehabilitation to be to this population. oncology into and close this This study the for education to for patients with cancer. IN S and P PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: therapy the treatment of patients with these often a of including physical at the of physical as by the and is of a of the in the of at and during a patient’s and related to and therapy commonly utilized in the treatment of these In this the of and at the of admission for treatment to identify most at risk for outcomes at NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: MATERIALS AND METHODS: All age for at from were for physical by a physical and in with for these The outcome was length of stay with in the the outcome assessed by severity and and were included in the was by of in the and RESULTS: were the with a age of were and and were the most common and were the most common The was with of and received Despite and assessed as = and were in and of was In both the and in the each of distance an in of when for and severity at admission CONCLUSIONS: who are functional based at admission are to a length of stay. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: a physical therapy of at admission may of at risk for and may physical interventions with the of PHYSICAL THERAPY AND S M P M G and M PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: therapy is for after treatment as and result in ICU admission, Limited data physical to with study patients to on the had a higher risk of and These findings the to evaluate whether physical therapy (PT) risk and overall hypothesized that PT measures treatment would be with and survival. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: patients who received MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective included patients who underwent PT evaluation between included and and and and to endurance and and of an assessed with and were by was with and RESULTS: The was age in of patients. with included to complete and as to on the increased risk increased risk higher including for during and Patients with increased risk increased risk These findings baseline physical may and after CONCLUSIONS: and were of distance and were the of CLINICAL RELEVANCE: data by and patients at higher risk for and survival. PT into may patient and research should whether prehabilitation and complications AND IN A OF CANCER and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: with a of cancer as compared to of the age, not are undergoing but also into is to of in this population are reported in with the between and are The purpose of this study was to compare and between with cancer and and assess between and in this population. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: between the of 6 and were for the study including with a of cancer and MATERIALS AND METHODS: Balance was the Test of Balance and was the Test of in Balance A was to assess during two of with and as as during testing. severity was and of life was the RESULTS: with cancer had significantly as compared to and had greater during with their (p = = of with a of cancer had significantly quality of life (p = severity was significantly correlated with = = and quality of life = = CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate with cancer should be assessed for to in should the of rehabilitation and interventions on improving and in with a of both during and after of cancer CLINICAL RELEVANCE: and should be in with a of cancer. These measures may to in this and these to physical therapy AND A and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: the most side effect of cancer all individuals with cancer their is by that by and daily and quality of life. is on intervention effectiveness and This knowledge the of treatment The purpose of this study was to and on interventions to and improve NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: participants with current MATERIALS AND METHODS: An was the and with participants via The collected data on current interventions received, of and intervention Participants completed the via cancer support groups, of and from a cancer RESULTS: were and were with breast cancer the most common of current was the was received treatment from compared to physical modification and were the most common interventions received from strategies exercise and were similar but at higher modification and were most exercise and recommendation effectiveness of strategies was = not = CONCLUSIONS: Significant in intervention with of to effectiveness of current interventions exercise by both and the for education and of CLINICAL RELEVANCE: should assess and in all of as current of significant the effectiveness of current integrating interventions into management improve outcomes and quality of life. PHYSICAL AND CANCER M and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: cancer improved exercise and quality of life after completing the and resistance exercise intervention compared to the control group and to there is of these based on level of physical function. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is a included age stage prostate and of participants received sessions and supervised resistance training sessions focused on increased and resistance control participants received on and of of this study physical by and exercise and of physical RESULTS: The sample = were a of 70 and of the participants were with breast prostate and cancer with a cancer of groups improvements in scores at of study (p = The intervention group had higher with an of at compared to the control group of with scores improved exercise by an of at of study compared to baseline both groups. was an in exercise in both groups, with scores by on both groups reported improved the intervention group with higher the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention was found to be an intervention in improving and physical in and may improved participants with scores into the of that be with This of intervention in in the and of CLINICAL RELEVANCE: experience in physical and in at higher but physical improve the overall and of these of cancer treatment with be to exercise with of and exercise also an important in to exercise and be by support benefit from support with as the IN FOR PATIENTS CANCER FOR M L P M and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: is cancer by and support at physical are to these to functional and patients purpose of this study was to evaluate whether outcomes for individuals undergoing cancer treatment and to for PT NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: MATERIALS AND METHODS: A was conducted across major and literature. patients cancer and in and per with participants across were included. RESULTS: in improving and and the of in physical and and in and findings in and exercise during to and – for and functional integrating data improve and important in CONCLUSIONS: with and as in integrating these to rehabilitation at data patient and are to outcomes and develop standardized CLINICAL RELEVANCE: should in data and to support of exercise and to cancer integrating patient optimize functional and a in FOR A G and P AND a study of a patient with and in and undergoing the of and rehab in recovery. A with in of to and admission, management was of and was to for an had complications an stay to of was utilized to complete and physical 6 and to is a and this study functional with and the of this patient during This patient to with from of to functional was further by chemo and as as ICU stay. The by physical and as as support to and to with OF AND IN IN AND L and PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: with a cancer significant including and that to and rehabilitation education is to a to and improving quality of life The of knowledge and assessment was in two in and NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: from two in the MATERIALS AND METHODS: The in and the for training in in and The was by based on of program in the and for and by two additional who also the Participants received of study and on the assessment and intervention of related to cancer were to for the the and were to evaluate the knowledge and of of the and additional was were RESULTS: Participants their knowledge of to patients with cancer on a of The improved from to from pre- to Participants that were exercise in with across the of oncology identify and functional resulting from cancer treatment identify for and and and an of for and functional resulting from cancer treatment Participants to support the of a program at their including and with and CONCLUSIONS: The for increased education and a to are