To conduct a literature review to identify studies that describe the effects of therapeutic exercise in pediatric patients with ALL during treatment and hospitalization.
A search was conducted in the Medline (PubMed), Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and PeDRO databases, using MeSH terms related to ALL and exercise therapy in pediatric patients. Studies in Spanish and English were selected, including randomized clinical trials, quasi-experimental studies, and case-control studies that involved children and adolescents (0 to 18 years old) diagnosed with ALL undergoing active chemotherapy treatment and receiving inpatient therapeutic exercise. Data extraction was performed simultaneously by team members using a previously evaluated format, classifying the information into study characteristics, intervention programs, and evaluated physical measures.
A total of 549 studies were found, with 268 duplicates removed. After the selection phase by title and abstract, 20 articles were left for full review, of which 13 met the inclusion criteria. These studies involved 487 pediatric patients with ALL. The interventions included aerobic exercise, muscle resistance, flexibility, and balance, with frequencies of three to seven times per week and progressive durations of 10 to 120 minutes. Measurements of aerobic capacity, strength, quality of life, balance, fatigue, physical activity, and others showed significant improvements in some cases, highlighting the benefits of exercise on the physical condition and quality of life.
The evidence shows that exercise in children with ALL is safe and has multiple benefits, including improved cardiopulmonary capacity, muscle strength, and reduced cancer-related fatigue. Recent studies suggest that even short-term programs, such as 10-day walks or four-week training sessions, can significantly improve physical condition and increase daily activity in patients.
The evidence highlights the potential for therapeutic exercise to be integrated into managing pediatric patients with ALL, improving physical and psychological outcomes during treatment. In practice, physiotherapists can develop individualized exercise programs that address cardiopulmonary fitness, muscle strength, and cancer-related fatigue, enhancing patients' quality of life. From an educational perspective, this research underscores the importance of incorporating exercise therapy into training healthcare professionals managing pediatric cancer, ensuring that future physiotherapists are equipped with evidence-based approaches.
Therapeutic Exercise
Physiotherapy
