Effect of Short-Term Homebased Pre- and Postoperative Exercise on Recovery after Colorectal Cancer Surgery (PHYSSURG-C): A Randomized Clinical Trial. Apr 15, 2021 To determine the effect of a short-term, unsupervised exercise intervention before and after colorectal cancer surgery on self-assessed physical recovery. Preoperative exercise interventions could help improve recovery after colorectal cancer surgery and is currently recommended. A randomized, parallel, open-label trial in six university or regional hospitals in Sweden. Inclusion criteria were age ≥20 years and planned elective colorectal cancer surgery. Participants were randomised to either a physical activity intervention with aerobic activity and inspiratory muscle training two weeks pre- and four weeks postoperatively or usual care. The primary outcome measure was self-assessed physical recovery four weeks postoperatively. Analyses were performed according to intention to treat. Outcome assessors were masked regarding the intervention while both participants and physiotherapists were informed due to the nature of the intervention.