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Motor functioning during and following treatment with chemotherapy for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Jessica L Green1, Sarah J Knight, Maria McCarthy
1Children's Cancer Centre, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Insights
Children undergoing acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment often show impaired gross and fine motor skills compared to peers. Long-term motor deficits are possible, necessitating further research into risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common childhood cancer.
- Cancer treatment can impact neurodevelopment and motor function in pediatric patients.
- Understanding motor skill development during and after ALL treatment is crucial for supportive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review empirical studies on motor skills in children with ALL.
- To evaluate gross motor, fine motor, and visual-motor integration skills.
- To identify patterns and deficits during and after ALL treatment.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of empirical studies.
- Inclusion of studies examining motor skills in children during and post-ALL treatment.
- Synthesis of findings regarding gross motor, fine motor, and visual-motor integration.
Main Results:
- Children on-treatment for ALL generally exhibit poorer gross and fine motor skills than healthy children.
- Visual-motor integration skills are typically intact during treatment.
- Gross motor difficulties are reported in 5-54% of survivors, with some evidence of long-term fine motor deficits.
Conclusions:
- Children with ALL experience motor skill impairments during treatment.
- Long-term motor deficits, particularly in gross and fine motor skills, are a concern for survivors.
- Further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify onset, timing, and risk factors for motor difficulties.
Abstract:
This systematic review evaluated empirical studies examining motor skills in children during and following treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Most studies indicated that children on-treatment display poorer gross and fine motor abilities than healthy peers, but generally have intact visual-motor integration skills. Studies have reported gross motor difficulties in 5-54% of survivors. There is some limited evidence for long-term fine motor deficits. The evidence for visual-motor integration difficulties in the survivor population is less consistent. Larger studies with a longitudinal design are needed to further specify the onset and timing of motor difficulties and ascertain risk factors.
