Body Composition Manipulation in CoLorectal cancEr (BiCyCLE): Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)

Muscle is lost as part of the rectal cancer disease process. Surgery to treat rectal cancer and its subsequent immobility leads to increased muscle loss. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been shown in previous studies in the critically ill to maintain muscle mass. The investigators aim to examine whether NMES use in the pre and postoperative setting preserves muscle mass, speeds up recovery and improves outcomes in advanced rectal cancer patients undergoing curative surgery. This is a phase II double blind randomised controlled clinical trial.