Perioperative exercise and breathing therapy for people having bariatric surgery
Impact of a Perioperative Physical Exercise and Respiratory Physiotherapy Program on the Patient Undergoing Bariatric Surgery
This program will test whether supervised exercise and respiratory physiotherapy before and after bariatric surgery helps adults recover faster, have fewer complications, and leave the hospital sooner.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 132 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 69 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Fundacin Biomedica Galicia Sur Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Vigo, Pontevedra) |
| Trial ID | NCT06987903 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults scheduled for elective bariatric surgery at Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro will be offered a pre- and post-operative supervised physical exercise program combined with respiratory physiotherapy. Clinical outcomes such as postoperative complications, adverse events, and length of hospital stay will be tracked alongside tissue and non‑invasive samples (fat, muscle, blood, saliva) to study epigenetic changes and liver tissue effects. The study will compare clinical recovery and molecular markers to see whether prehabilitation correlates with better surgical outcomes and liver disease evolution. Exclusions include urgent or combined surgeries, inability to consent, illiteracy or dependence on a legal representative, and unstable GLP‑1/SGLT2 therapy.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–69 scheduled for elective bariatric surgery at the General and Digestive Surgery Department of Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital who can give informed consent and meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria.
Not a fit: Patients needing urgent or combined surgeries, those who cannot participate in the exercise or physiotherapy program, those unable to consent, or patients on unstable GLP‑1/SGLT2 regimens are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower surgical risks, reduce postoperative complications, and shorten hospital stays for patients having bariatric surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Prehabilitation and respiratory physiotherapy have reduced pulmonary complications and improved recovery in other surgical populations, and some bariatric-specific studies suggest benefit though results are variable.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing bariatric surgery at the General and Digestive Surgery Department of the Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital in Vigo. * Be over 18 and under 69 years old. * Sign the informed consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Patient's refusal to enter the study. * Inability to comprehend participation in a study. * Urgent interventions. * Patients undergoing combined surgery with another surgical service. * Patients who cannot read and write or are dependent on a legal representative. * Patients on treatment for diabetes with GLP-1 agonists (glucagon-like peptide type 1 agonists) and/or SGLT2 inhibitors (sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors) whose dose is not stable in the last 3 months.
Where this trial is running
Vigo, Pontevedra
- Hospital Alvaro Cunqueiro — Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.