Manchola-Gonzalez J.D.1, Serra.Grima R.2, Álvarez Pérez R.2, Bagur-Calafat C.1, Garnacho-Castaño M.V.3, Girabent-Farrés M.1
1Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Physiotherapy, Barcelona, Spain, 2Hospital de la Santa Creu y Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain, 3Tecnocampus, Mataro, Spain
Background: Medical advances and healthcare efficacy have improved the number of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors; however, the prevalence of long term effects has become more evident. In such cases, obesity, muscular atrophy, motor and cardiac deficits could all be related to low levels of physical activity and fitness observed in survivors of ALL. Diverse studies have shown evidence of the benefits of exercise during all phases of medical treatment for ALL: induction, consolidation and maintenance; nevertheless, it is necessary to understand the effects that exercise has years after treatments have finalized, keeping in mind that the motor performance in these children and adolescents continues to diminish.
Purpose: To determine the effects of a low intensity exercise program on the cardiorespiratory, muscular and motor in children and adolescent survivors of ALL.
Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial, 19 children and adolescent survivors (11,32 ± 3,9 years) of ALL with a minimum of one year in complete remission were assigned into two groups: Group with Intervention (GI; n=12) and Control Group (CG; n=7). The program consisted of strength, flexibility and aerobic exercises through an online platform with instructional videos of each routine. VO2 peak, load obtained at VO2 peak, hand grip strength, flexibility, Time Up and Go test (TUG), Time Up and Down Stairs (TUDS) and the level of physical activity were evaluated before and after the 16 week program for both the Group with Intervention and Control Group.
Results: Significant increases were observed in the GI with respect to the CG (p 0.05) with 12.32% in the VO2 peak, 25.45% in the load obtained at VO2 peak and 41.91% in hand grip strength. Although improvements in flexibility and time of the TUG and TUDS tests in the GI in comparison with the CG were noted, these results were not statistically significant (p>0.05). In addition, no statistical differences was found between the CG and GI with regards to the level of physical activity completed.
Conclusion(s): A low intensity home exercise program was effective in improving the cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength in children and adolescent survivors of ALL.
Implications: Once the maintenance phase in the studied population has been completed, a simple video exercise program can be an alternative to improve the diminished fitness during treatment.
Funding acknowledgements: Any Funding acknowledgment
Topic: Paediatrics
Ethics approval: Approved by the Committee of the Hospital de la Santa Creu y Sant Pau and International University of Catalonia.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
