Effects of Preoperative Physical Therapy in Patients With Lower Extremity Malignancy

Endurance exercise will consist of ambulating with assistive devices as needed, upper extremity (UE) ergometer, and/or playing the Wii.

Strengthening exercises will involve both UE's and LE's. For UE's, bicep curls, triceps curls, shoulder flexion, and/or press-ups from the therapy mat or wheelchair will be included. For the LE's, bridging, long arc quads, hamstring curls, calf raises in standing, single LE squats, and/or dorsiflexion (DF) in supine will be performed on the uninvolved extremity.

Stretching will consist of ankle stretch into DF in supine or long sitting, hamstring stretch in supine with hip flexed to 90 degrees, and trunk extension in sitting.

All participants will be given a tailored home exercise program (HEP) including endurance exercises, strengthening, and stretching exercises to be completed on days they do not have PT. If the participants return home, they will be asked to complete the HEP at least 3 days per week. The physical therapist will contact the participant weekly to modify the HEP if necessary and determine compliance.