P. Ahumada1, A.L. Robayo Torres1
1Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá DC., Bogotá, Colombia
Background: There is a large number of pediatric population that suffers from cancer and is subjected to different treatments such as chemotherapy, which trigger problems in the muscular system, manual dexterity, balance, tendon reflexes, gait alteration, reduction of joint mobility, stiffness of the joints and flexibility, which will ultimately affect the child's movement and quality of life, these variables being relevant for the physical therapist, denoting the need to know the role it plays in the recovery of these patients.
Purpose: Describe the physiotherapeutic interactions published in current research in the pediatric cancer population.
Methods: This study is a documentary search. The search is done by databases, PubMed, OVID, PeDro and Bdigital UNAL, using the connectors (AND) (OR); with the terms MESH Efficacy; Efficiency; Physical therapy specialty; Physiotherapy; Pediatric Oncology, Results; Effect. The selection process is performed according to the inclusion criteria, : pediatric population, oncology area, having a physiotherapeutic management protocol, the types of cancer were not discriminated for this review; Articles where there was no physical therapist presence and if they were over 18 years were excluded. This is done in three stages, firstly, with reading titles, second, background reading and in a third, reading the full text.
Results: In the search a total of 2,114 were obtained, by title they were eliminated (n = 2,063), in the second review (n = 18); in the complete reading (n = 8; for a total (n = 25). Of the 25 articles, four of them spoke of physical activity, three of therapeutic massage, fifteen on physical exercise, one on aquatic therapy combined with Equine therapy, one to vibration with a full body, one on caregiver management, one on alternative therapies and finally two on health education. Among the most statistically significant interventions are acupuncture in anti-mimetic use (p <0.001), physical exercise which impacts BMI (p <0.0001), Muscular strength (p <0.0007- p <0.001), functional mobility (p <0.0008), joint mobility (p < 0.001), functional capacity (<0.001) and BMI (0.005); Physical activity to improve body composition (<0.001) Physical function (p <0.0001); Social role (p <0.001); Self-esteem (p <0.001); Mental health (p <0.0001); Flexibility and ankle strength (<0.001- <0.001), in functional capacity (<0.006); Massage Therapeutic that significantly impacts pain (p <0.001), muscle sensation <0.001), levels of discomfort (<0.001) and anxiety (p <0.000); finally, equine therapy plus aquatic therapy in posture (<0.009).
Conclusion(s): These issues, as a whole of problems and therapeutic modalities, offer us the range of basic conditions in which the physiotherapist intervenes, offering from there the possible construction of guide algorithms or protocols to guide the interaction with the pediatric cancer patient.
Implications:
- This particular population requires an immediate interaction modality
- Given the above, the use of a matrix containing the possible modalities with the best evidence on its efficacy is recommended, that is: therapeutic massage, physical exercise, alternative therapies.
- The revision of the theoretical / epistemological frameworks is substantial to all the interactions that the physiotherapist has within oncology.
Funding, acknowledgements: This research has no source of funding
Keywords: Physiotherapeutic treatment, Pediatric oncology, Therapeutic modalities
Topic: Oncology, HIV & palliative care
Did this work require ethics approval? No
Institution: Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Committee: Ethics Committee of the Medical School of Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Reason: Because this is a Theorical Review investigation
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
