Childhood Cancer
Conditions
Keywords
Exercise, Pediatric oncology, Physical Performance, Quality of Life, Feasibility, during primary, anticancer treatment
Brief summary
Today about 80% childhood cancer patients become long-time survivors. In spite of the high cure rates the diagnosis cancer is associated with a variety of disease and treatment-related psychological and physical impairments mostly present into adulthood. So the attention has to focus on the improvement of these problems such as motor limitation, dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, reduced muscle strength, overweight, osteoporosis and diminished quality of life (Qol). Although exercisel intervention studies in this field are generally scarce, the results of these studies are promising. Up to now studies during the acute phase of treatment are missing almost completely. The aim of this feasibility study is to evaluate the potential benefits of a modular exercise intervention program for childhood cancer patients startunf in parallel with treatment and longlasting for one year. Across two years cancer patients of the Children's Hospital of the University Clinic of Heidelberg aged 5-21 years, free of any contraindications for physical activity will be recruited. All participants are asked to complete a physical assessment battery (strength, endurance and balance capacity, posture control, functional mobility, range of motion) and additionally two questionnaires concerning Qol and motivation, at baseline and every three months following one year
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMultimodal Exercise Intervention
During their inpatient hospitalization the participants perform 3-5x weekly guided training sessions about 15-30min. The intervention includes: game console-based training using Nintendo Wii® (endurance, strength endurance and balance), age-specific resistance training and sessions of body awareness. During the outpatient phases the participants perform a home-based exercise training 3-5x weekly using a training manual. In addition, the patients obtain a movement diary and a pedometer for documenting their activity level.
Sponsors
University Hospital Heidelberg
Heidelberg University
University of Leipzig
Children's Medical Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
German Cancer Research Center
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
5 Years to 21 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* pediatric cancer diagnosis (primary leukemia, brain tumors and bone tumors * date of diagnosis not longer than 8 weeks ago
Exclusion criteria
* severe cardiac impairment * bone metastasis inducing skeletal fragility * other orthopedic diseases or any other circumstance that would impede ability to give informed consent or adherence to study requirements.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility after 6 month | after primary treatment (6 month) | Will be measured as the proportion of patients following the exercise prescription. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Physical performance | after primary treatment (6 month) and after one year | Strength (handheld dynamometer), endurance and balance capacity (TUDS, one leg stand), postural control functional mobility (posturomed & force plate), range of motion (goniometer) |
| Quality of Life | after primary treatment (6 month) and after one year | KINDL questionnaire |
| Feasibility between 6 and 12 month | between end of primary treatment (6 month) and one year | Will be measured as the proportion of patients following the exercise prescription. |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed