Online Training to Ease Walking and Sitting After Rectal Cancer Surgery
Tests guided online training against usual advice in adults after rectal cancer surgery.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Walking and Sitting Difficulties After Rectal Cancer Surgery
Key facts
- Where
- Gothenburg, SwedenSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with rectal cancer who will have the rectum and anus removed by abdominoperineal excision (APE/ELAPE). It tests online training against general WHO advice on physical activity.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- Women and men can join
- Disease stage
- Rectal cancer to be treated with abdominoperineal excision (APE/ELAPE), with or without mesh, with or without radiation or chemoradiation before surgery.
- Earlier treatment
- Radiation or chemoradiation before surgery is allowed but not required. People who already exceed the WHO physical activity advice at the start (150 min plus two strength sessions) cannot join.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Surgery needing muscle or skin-and-muscle flaps (extended APE)
- Hartmann's procedure
- Anterior resection (low or high)
- Taking part in another randomized trial that conflicts with this one
- Cannot read or understand Swedish or Danish
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Where in Sweden
- Department of Surgery, SSORG - Scandinavian Surgical Outcomes Research Group, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 416 85 Gothenburg, Sweden.Gothenburg, SwedenNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT07035600
- Record updated
- 25 June 2025
- Original description
Earlier studies have shown that many patients (up to 30%) who have had a major surgery for rectal cancer, called a rectum amputation (where the entire rectum and anus are removed and the person gets a permanent stoma), still have trouble sitting and walking three years after the surgery. These problems are then seen as long-term or chronic.Read full original descriptionShow less
WASA - Walking and Sitting Difficulties After APE
Earlier studies have shown that many patients (up to 30%) who have had a major surgery for rectal cancer, called a rectum amputation (where the entire rectum and anus are removed and the person gets a permanent stoma), still have trouble sitting and walking three years after the surgery. These problems are then seen as long-term or chronic.
WASA is a randomized multicenter international study that will test a way to reduce these problems. It will start in fall 2025 and go on for 3.5 years. About 300 patients will take part.
The patients will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will get guided online training twice a week, specially made for their needs. The other group will get information about the World Health Organization's (WHO) general advice on physical activity.
The idea is that special training during the first year after surgery will reduce problems with walking and sitting. If the hypothesis can be confirmed, it could lead to an easy and low-cost way to help many rectal cancer patients feel and function better.
Inclusion: Patients with rectal cancer to be treated with/without neoadjuvant (chemo)radiation and abdominoperineal excision with or without mesh (APE/ELAPE) Informed consent Able to read and understand Swedish or Danish.
Exclusion: Patients with rectal cancer to be operated by extended abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) requiring musculocutaneous or muscular flaps to be operated by Hartmann's procedure to be operated by anterior resection (low or high) participation in other randomized trials in conflict with the protocol and endpoints of the WASA trial Not understanding Swedish or Danish Patients reporting habit of physical activity exceeding the WHO-recommendations (150 min + two strength sessions) at baseline.