OTT: The ZIO in a pioneering role

It has been well documented for more than 20 years that patients with cancer, especially after and during chemotherapy, benefit from being physically active. A programme that is individualized and structured and combines targeted muscle-building exercises with aerobic endurance training appears to be particularly beneficial. The ZIO offers such a program to its patients as part of the OTT oncological training program. It is actively used and praised (see interview with Dirk Scharr from ZIO).

A working group in Canada launched a prospective randomized study more than 15 years ago (CHALLENGE). After completing chemotherapy following surgery, colorectal cancer patients received either only general health advice including dietary recommendations and advice on physical activity or, in addition to the advice, a structured exercise program with instructions and repeated contact with an advisor and motivator over a total of three years.

Significant improvement

The pre-defined goal of this study was disease-free survival. Physical performance improved in both groups. However, the improvement was significantly greater in the group with the structured exercise program than in the comparison group.

Participation in the recommended and supervised exercise sessions in the exercise group decreased considerably over time - not unexpectedly - and was still 38 percent after three years. The influence on body weight or body mass index did not differ.

Disease-free survival was significantly and clinically relevantly better. After five years, it was over 80 percent in the exercise group and just under 74 percent in the comparison group with counseling (HR = 0.72). Overall survival was also significantly improved and was over 90 percent after eight years compared to just over 83 percent. This is a considerably greater difference than that achieved by adding oxaliplatin to chemotherapy after surgery.

The main reason for the improvement in survival is that recurrences of colorectal cancer and deaths from other cancers can be avoided. Other causes such as cardiovascular mortality were not significantly reduced.

OTT as a standard to strive for

We are delighted that it has now been proven at the highest level that OTT oncological training therapy is superior to pure health advice and lifestyle recommendations in terms of overall survival. In the world's most important medical journal, a measure that we have been offering and recommending to our patients for years is thus recommended as a standard to strive for.

Current study on the topic

Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemo-therapy for Colon Cancer; NEJM 01.06.2025
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40450658/