JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 85 % of primary pulmonary neoplasms. Complete surgical removal remains the cornerstone of curative therapy, yet it frequently diminishes residual lung function and exercise tolerance. Structured, centre-based rehabilitation hastens physiological recovery, but conventional schemes rarely deliver continuous, patient-specific monitoring. Remote, digitally delivered exercise overcomes logistical obstacles; however, the lack of real-time quality assurance curtails effectiveness. Wearable motion-capture platforms that provide millimetre-precise kinematic data and instantaneous biomechanical feedback can close this supervisory void by confirming movement accuracy and issuing immediate corrective prompts. Whether this technologically augmented tele-rehabilitation yields clinically relevant improvements in post-operative exercise capacity after NSCLC resection remains inadequately established.

Objective:

This study aims to find out whether motion-capture–enabled telerehabilitation can enhance exercise endurance and functional recovery following NSCLC resection, thereby filling a critical void in postoperative care pathways.

Methods:

We performed a single-centre, parallel-arm randomised trial in individuals who had completed curative lung resection for NSCLC and satisfied every enrolment criterion. Following stratified block randomisation, eligible patients were assigned either to a technology-enhanced telerehabilitation protocol incorporating live motion sensing or to a WeChat-based regimen without that feedback layer. Each programme spanned four weeks. Assessments—comprising exercise endurance, spirometric variables, health-related quality of life, daily physical activity, and circulating tumour-associated biomarkers—were collected at discharge and repeated four weeks post-intervention.

Results:

Of 58 enrolled participants (29 per group), 50 (25 per group) completed the study. Baseline demographics and clinical variables were comparable (all P > 0.05). At four weeks, the motion-capture telerehabilitation arm demonstrated superior improvements versus controls in 6-minute walk distance, spirometric indices, Timed Up-and-Go speed, and multiple QoL domains—namely physical well-being, functional well-being, lung-cancer-specific concerns, and global QoL (all P < 0.05). Conversely, Borg dyspnoea scores, single-leg stance duration, 30-s chair stand, 5-times sit-to-stand, 2-min step test, social/family well-being, emotional well-being, and circulating tumour biomarkers did not differ between groups (all P > 0.05). Adherence was significantly higher in the experimental arm (P < 0.05), and no adverse events were reported.

Conclusions:

One month of motion-capture–guided telerehabilitation yielded clinically meaningful gains in aerobic endurance, spirometric indices, ambulatory capacity, and global health-related quality of life for patients recovering from NSCLC surgery, underscoring its utility as a safe and effective remote-care strategy. Clinical Trial: Medical Ethics Committee of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China (No. 2024-KY-350-01)