Research

Mixed

High-intensity endurance and strength training initiated 5-7 weeks after lung cancer surgery significantly improves peak oxygen uptake, muscular strength, total muscle mass, and quality of life compared to standard postoperative care.

If you have had lung cancer surgery, do not avoid exercise. Start a supervised program of high-intensity endurance (like uphill walking) and strength training (weight lifting) 5-7 weeks after surgery. Doing this three times a week for 20 weeks can significantly improve your breathing capacity, muscle strength, and overall quality of life, helping you return to daily activities more easily.

WeakSupportsHIGH confidence
In patients recently operated for lung cancer, high-intensity endurance and strength training was well tolerated and induced clinically significant improvements in peak oxygen uptake, Tlco, muscular strength, total muscle mass, functional fitness and QoL.
Elisabeth Edvardsen et al. · Thorax · 2014

Why this rating

Single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) with intention-to-treat analysis, meeting high standards for clinical evidence.

Source

High-intensity training following lung cancer surgery: a randomised controlled trial

Elisabeth Edvardsen et al. · Thorax · 2014

DOI 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-205944

rct · n=61Cited 181×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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