<p>Prehabilitation is gaining increasing importance in the care of patients with head and neck cancer. While the positive effects of exercise therapy interventions are well established in other oncological entities, the prehabilitative use of physical activity in head and neck cancer has so far been largely limited to prevention and reduction of swallowing disorders. Targeted exercise therapy interventions to enhance physical and mental performance have rarely been implemented in these patients. This article shows which aspects of the disease can be addressed through appropriate training measures. Based on the evidence, it derives how exercise control can be implemented in practice using the FITT criteria (frequency, intensity, time, type).</p>