Becnel K1, Nguyen P1, Salem Y1, Liu H1
1University of North Texas Health Science Center, Physical Therapy, Fort Worth, United States
Background: The advances in treatment of children with cancer have been improved in recent years. This has resulted in an increase in the number of pediatric cancer survivors. Several research studies have shown that the medical condition and its related disorders is associated with impaired growth and development, decreased strength, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, cardiopulmonary compromise, impaired physical fitness, musculoskeletal complications and decreased quality of life. There is growing evidence that lack of participation in physical activity in children with disability including children with pediatric oncology may result in several negative effects and decrease quality of life. In recent years, several exercise programs have been implemented for pediatric oncology.
Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review is to examine evidence regarding the potential benefits of exercise for children with pediatric oncology. Safety, benefits, and application are addressed.
Methods: Electronic databases used were PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), CINAHL, and Scopus. We also conducted a search in the Rehabilitation Oncology Journal. Key words included pediatric, children, oncology, exercise, and rehabilitation. The initial search yielded 276 potential articles. These studies were then screened for duplications and selection criteria. Of those 276 studies, 16 studies were considered to meet all of the required inclusion criteria. This is a systematic review study. Quality of the included studies was rated using the Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine: Levels of Evidence and the PEDro scale.
Results: In total, 16 research studies were examined and met our inclusion criteria for exercise in pediatric oncology patients. Of the included articles, 10 were randomized controlled trials, 3 were quasi-experimental design, and 3 were cohort studies. Across all 16 studies, 675 children with pediatric oncology were participants. Sample size for each study ranged between 7 and 150 children. The age range of the children was between 4 and 18 years old. All studies showed beneficial effects of exercise training for children with pediatric cancer.
Conclusion(s): This systematic review adds to the body of literature that supports exercise training for individuals with pediatric oncology. Studies included support the beneficial effects of exercises for children with cancer. Further studies are needed to determine long term effects of any intervention.
Implications: Available literature on exercise in children with pediatric oncology suggests that there are beneficial effects without adverse outcomes. Large randomized controlled trials using specified protocols are needed.
Keywords: Oncology, paediatrics, exercise
Funding acknowledgements: None.
Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review is to examine evidence regarding the potential benefits of exercise for children with pediatric oncology. Safety, benefits, and application are addressed.
Methods: Electronic databases used were PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), CINAHL, and Scopus. We also conducted a search in the Rehabilitation Oncology Journal. Key words included pediatric, children, oncology, exercise, and rehabilitation. The initial search yielded 276 potential articles. These studies were then screened for duplications and selection criteria. Of those 276 studies, 16 studies were considered to meet all of the required inclusion criteria. This is a systematic review study. Quality of the included studies was rated using the Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine: Levels of Evidence and the PEDro scale.
Results: In total, 16 research studies were examined and met our inclusion criteria for exercise in pediatric oncology patients. Of the included articles, 10 were randomized controlled trials, 3 were quasi-experimental design, and 3 were cohort studies. Across all 16 studies, 675 children with pediatric oncology were participants. Sample size for each study ranged between 7 and 150 children. The age range of the children was between 4 and 18 years old. All studies showed beneficial effects of exercise training for children with pediatric cancer.
Conclusion(s): This systematic review adds to the body of literature that supports exercise training for individuals with pediatric oncology. Studies included support the beneficial effects of exercises for children with cancer. Further studies are needed to determine long term effects of any intervention.
Implications: Available literature on exercise in children with pediatric oncology suggests that there are beneficial effects without adverse outcomes. Large randomized controlled trials using specified protocols are needed.
Keywords: Oncology, paediatrics, exercise
Funding acknowledgements: None.
Topic: Oncology, HIV & palliative care; Paediatrics
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: University of North Texas Health Science Center
Ethics committee: This is a systematic review study. No approval is required.
Reason not required: This is a systematic review study. No approval is required.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
