Wearable-measured early postoperative mobility is associated with recovery after elective colorectal cancer surgery: a prospective pilot study.
- 1Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 2Seoul National University Cancer Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
Abstract
Purpose
Early mobilization is a key component of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways following colorectal cancer surgery; however, objective postoperative mobility quantification remains limited. We evaluated whether early postoperative step counts measured using a wearable device could be associated with the achievement of ERAS-based discharge eligibility.Methods
In this prospective pilot study, adults undergoing elective colorectal cancer resection at a single tertiary academic referral hospital wore a consumer wearable device (Galaxy Watch 5) from the day of surgery. Cumulative step counts on postoperative days (PODs) 1 and 2 were recorded. Discharge readiness was assessed daily by predefined ERAS criteria. The patients were dichotomized according to the median cumulative step count (3,781 steps). The primary endpoint was the achievement of ERAS-based discharge eligibility by POD 3, and the secondary endpoints included time to discharge readiness and postoperative length of stay.Results
Between August 2023 and December 2024, 38 patients were evaluated. Discharge readiness by POD 3 was more frequent in the active group (68.4% vs. 26.3%; odds ratio, 6.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-24.76; P=0.009), which achieved discharge readiness earlier (median, POD 3 vs. POD 4; P=0.003) and had a shorter postoperative stay (median, 5 days vs. 6 days; P=0.041) than did the inactive group. Early diet tolerance differed between the groups (P=0.013).Conclusion
Higher early postoperative step counts were associated with earlier ERAS-based discharge readiness and shorter hospitalization. Wearable-derived mobility might provide an objective marker of recovery and target for postoperative mobilization strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{kim2026wearablemeasured,
title = {{Wearable-measured early postoperative mobility is associated with recovery after elective colorectal cancer surgery: a prospective pilot study.}},
author = {Hyo Jun Kim and Min Jung Kim and Youngjin Kim and Hyun Tae Lim and Jae Hyun Park and Jesung Park and Ji Won Park and Seung-Bum Ryoo and Seung-Yong Jeong and Kyu Joo Park},
journal = {Annals of coloproctology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3393/ac.2026.00619.0088},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958783},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Wearable-measured early postoperative mobility is associated with recovery after elective colorectal cancer surgery: a prospective pilot study.
AU - Hyo Jun Kim
AU - Min Jung Kim
AU - Youngjin Kim
AU - Hyun Tae Lim
AU - Jae Hyun Park
AU - Jesung Park
AU - Ji Won Park
AU - Seung-Bum Ryoo
AU - Seung-Yong Jeong
AU - Kyu Joo Park
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Annals of coloproctology
DO - 10.3393/ac.2026.00619.0088
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958783
AB - Purpose Early mobilization is a key component of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways following colorectal cancer surgery; however, objective postoperative mobility quantification remains limited. We evaluated whether early postoperative step counts measured using a wearable device could be associated with the achievement of ERAS-based discharge eligibility.Methods In this prospective pilot study, adults undergoing elective colorectal cancer resection at a single tertiary academic referral hospital wore a consumer wearable device (Galaxy Watch 5) from the day of surgery. Cumulative step counts on postoperative days (PODs) 1 and 2 were recorded. Discharge readiness was assessed daily by predefined ERAS criteria. The patients were dichotomized according to the median cumulative step count (3,781 steps). The primary endpoint was the achievement of ERAS-based discharge eligibility by POD 3, and the secondary endpoints included time to discharge readiness and postoperative length of stay.Results Between August 2023 and December 2024, 38 patients were evaluated. Discharge readiness by POD 3 was more frequent in the active group (68.4% vs. 26.3%; odds ratio, 6.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-24.76; P=0.009), which achieved discharge readiness earlier (median, POD 3 vs. POD 4; P=0.003) and had a shorter postoperative stay (median, 5 days vs. 6 days; P=0.041) than did the inactive group. Early diet tolerance differed between the groups (P=0.013).Conclusion Higher early postoperative step counts were associated with earlier ERAS-based discharge readiness and shorter hospitalization. Wearable-derived mobility might provide an objective marker of recovery and target for postoperative mobilization strategies.
SN - 2287-9714
SN - 2287-9722
ER -