"Exercise Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Young Sarcoma Survivors (Sport Ist Herzenssache)"

Summary

Survivors of bone and soft tissue sarcoma often face long-term health problems after their cancer treatment, such as muscle weakness, joint stiffness, and reduced heart and lung fitness. Because of this, many survivors are less physically active than their healthy peers, which can further increase their risk of heart disease and other late effects later in life.

This study, called "Sport ist Herzenssache" ("Sports is a Matter of the Heart"), tests whether a personalized exercise program can help young survivors (aged 15-39) become more physically active. All participants receive a fitness tracker (smartwatch) to monitor their daily activity. Half of the participants are randomly assigned to also receive an individualized home exercise plan, including strength and endurance training, with some sessions guided online by an exercise specialist.

Before and after an 8-week exercise period (with continuous activity tracking for about 13 weeks total), participants complete simple physical tests (such as walking and balance tests), a heart and fitness check-up, and questionnaires about their quality of life and energy levels.

The main goal is to find out whether the personalized exercise plan helps participants become more active in daily life, measured in minutes of moderate-to-intense activity per day. The study also looks at effects on heart health, physical function, and overall well-being.

The results will help determine whether structured exercise support should become a standard part of long-term follow-up care for young sarcoma survivors.

Conditions

• Bone Sarcoma
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Individualized Exercise Program

An 8-week individualized, partially supervised home-based exercise program designed to increase physical activity in accordance with exercise guidelines for cancer survivors. The program is tailored to each participant's functional status, based on a comprehensive baseline assessment (functional testing, cardiopulmonary evaluation, and a structured counseling session addressing individual interests, concerns, and goals). The program consists of: Endurance training: 60 minutes/week (e.g., walking, cycling), Aerobic and strength training: 3 sessions/week, 30 minutes each, targeting endurance, strength, coordination, mobility, balance, and flexibility Training sessions are self-administered at home, supported by a digital training platform providing instructional videos, and monitored via a wearable activity tracker. Partial supervision is provided through live video-conferencing sessions conducted by a trained exercise therapist in weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universität Duisburg-Essen

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Miriam Götte, Dr. rer. medic. · University Hospital, Essen

• Ina Elisa Kirchberg, Dr. med. · University Hospital, Essen

• Uta Dirksen, Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. · University Hospital, Essen

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

15 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-08-01

Primary Completion

2028-07-31

Completion

2028-07-31