Exploring the Effects of Hand and Foot Exercise Intervention in Older Adults With Gynecological Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy Improvement of Peripheral Neuropathy and Quality of Life

January 21, 2026 updated by: Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan
Paclitaxel-based drugs are commonly used adjuvant chemotherapy for gynecological cancer patients. Peripheral neuropathy, a side effect of this treatment, presents with symptoms such as numbness, tingling, decreased skin and reflex sensation, and impaired function in the hands and feet, thus affecting quality of life. Peripheral neuropathy is a side effect caused by the neurotoxicity of certain chemotherapeutic drugs, including paclitaxel and platinum-based drugs, resulting from the cumulative toxicity of specific drug doses. While numerous international studies have confirmed the preventative effects of hand and foot movement interventions, there is a lack of relevant literature in China. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effects of hand and foot movement interventions on elderly gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Peripheral neuropathy is a fairly common clinical problem. Paclitaxel-based drugs are commonly used adjuvant chemotherapy for gynecological cancer patients, and peripheral neuropathy symptoms, including numbness, tingling, decreased skin and reflex sensation, and impaired function, can significantly impact quality of life. Peripheral neuropathy is a side effect caused by the neurotoxicity of certain chemotherapeutic drugs, including paclitaxel (Paclitaxel, Docetaxel) and platinum-based drugs (Cisplatin, Carboplatin). It results from the cumulative toxicity of specific drug doses. A study by Eroglu & Kutluturkan (2024) showed that in colorectal cancer patients receiving at least two cycles of platinum-based drugs, a hand and foot exercise program performed three times daily, three days a week, for eight weeks effectively reduced sensory and motor symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, as well as the severity, frequency, and emotional distress caused by symptoms, and the impact of symptoms on hand and foot dexterity. Another study reported that breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy and diagnosed with grade I or higher neuropathy benefited from massage or stress ball exercises for eight weeks. These exercises helped reduce the incidence and severity of peripheral neuropathy during and after chemotherapy, prevented muscle weakness caused by peripheral neuropathy, and improved independent function and quality of life (Uysal & Toprak, 2025). Currently, there is a lack of empirical research in China on using hand-foot exercise interventions to improve peripheral neuropathy and quality of life in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and care guidelines are severely lacking. More research is needed to confirm its efficacy. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effectiveness of hand-foot exercise interventions in improving peripheral neuropathy and quality of life in elderly gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Currently, many studies abroad have confirmed that hand and foot exercise intervention can effectively prevent [the condition]. We would like to invite you to participate in a research trial. You are free to decide whether or not to participate in this trial. Before receiving the hand and foot exercise at our hospital's obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic, we will explain the process and obtain your consent. We will provide you with a paper picture booklet of hand and foot exercises. After the researcher demonstrates the hand and foot exercise instructions to the participant using a massage ball, the researcher and the participant will perform the hand and foot exercises together one-on-one to confirm that the participant's movements are performed correctly. You can also watch the hand and foot exercise instructional video online. At the same time, you will be given a weekly exercise record sheet, indicating whether you have completed the exercise by checking a box. Participants will then perform the hand and foot exercises at home for 10-15 minutes each time, three times a day, three days a week, for twelve weeks. After that, you will return the exercise record sheet.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

74

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
    • No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Beitou District
      • Taipei, No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Beitou District, Taiwan, 112201
        • Taipei Veterans General Hospital
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Individuals aged 65 or older diagnosed with gynecological cancer (stage II to IV) by a physician, without skin or nail lesions.

Individuals who have received at least one course of chemotherapy within the past year and have peripheral neuropathy, with chemotherapy drugs including paclitaxel (Paclitaxel or Docetaxel) or platinum-based drugs (Cisplatin or Carboplatin), and may receive combined targeted or immunotherapy.

Individuals who are conscious and able to communicate in Mandarin, Taiwanese, or written language.

Exclusion Criteria:

Skin or nail lesions. Edema of 3+ or more in the extremities. History of diagnosis of diabetes, neuropathy, peripheral arterial ischemia, or multiple organ failure.

Distal bone or skin metastases. Patients who have interrupted chemotherapy. Patients who have participated in similar studies.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: experimental group
Other: hand and foot exercises
The hand and foot exercise steps include hand and foot movements, practiced in a seated position. Hold each movement for ten seconds and then relax, repeating ten times. Perform the hand and foot exercises three times a day, for 10-15 minutes each time, three days a week, for twelve weeks.
No Intervention: control group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Peripheral neuropathy
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks.
The content includes FACT/GOG-Ntx variable data.The maximum score is 120 points, and the minimum score is 0 points.A higher score indicates a better result.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quality of life
Time Frame: From enrollment to end of treatment (12 weeks)
The content includes EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 variable data.The maximum score is 100 points, and the minimum score is 0 points. A higher score indicates a better quality of life.
From enrollment to end of treatment (12 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan

Investigators

  • Study Chair: CHANG Chen Hsuan

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

January 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 21, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 21, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2025-12-008A

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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