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Exercise interventions in children with cancer: a review
Tseng-Tien Huang1, Kirsten K Ness
1Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
International Journal of Pediatrics
|November 29, 2011
Summary
Exercise can improve health and physical function in children undergoing cancer treatment. This review highlights benefits like increased fitness and strength, but more research is needed for broader application.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Exercise Science
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Childhood cancer treatment can lead to significant declines in physical function and health.
- Maintaining physical activity during and after cancer therapy is crucial for recovery and long-term well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on the impact of exercise interventions on the health and physical function of pediatric cancer patients.
- To synthesize findings from intervention trials conducted during and after cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed with terms related to exercise training and pediatric cancer.
- Reference lists of retrieved articles were also screened for additional relevant studies.
- Fifteen intervention trials published between 1993 and 2011 involving children under 21 with cancer were included.
Main Results:
- Exercise interventions, including aerobic and resistance training, showed positive effects on cardiopulmonary fitness, muscle strength, and flexibility.
- Participants reported reduced fatigue and improved overall physical function.
- Studies primarily focused on children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or mixed cancer diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- Early evidence suggests exercise is beneficial for improving health and physical function in pediatric cancer patients.
- Generalizing findings is challenging due to the limited scope of existing research, particularly concerning diverse cancer types.
- Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm these benefits in larger, more varied pediatric cancer populations.
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