Importance of physiotherapy for patients after surgery for colon cancer

Physiotherapy is an important component of modern perioperative care strategies that aim to promote postoperative recovery via early enforced mobilisation. Current recommendations for perioperative rehabilitation are provided by ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) programmes, highlighting importance of preoperative patient education and training, structured mobilisation plan and maximal support of patient's motivation. To survey patient's experience of provided physiotherapy we created a questionnaire for 3rd Department of Surgery, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital inpatients undergoing elective abdominal surgery for colorectal cancer. Results suggest regular provision of professional physiotherapy in early postoperative care, but also common preoperative absence of patient physiotherapy education and possible insufficiency in patient's understanding of the rehabilitation process. Regarding the small number of respondents the results the problem needs further investigation