Isometric Muscle Training in Patients With Spinal Bony Metastases Under Radiation Therapy

Standard indications for palliative radiation of bony metastases include pain, spinal cord compression, and impending pathologic fractures. Palliative radiation therapy serves to reduce pain, improve quality of life, and avoid complications. Tailored training of the paravertebral musculature may support radiation therapy and improve above named factors. DISPO was designed to investigate the impact of tailored physical exercise in patients with vertebral metastases as compared to manual therapy (massage etc.). The trial includes patients with painful bony metastases, patients with spinal cord compression or impending pathological fractures are excluded. The investigations are carried out in a prospective randomized controlled phase-II parallel group design.