TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, Carsten
A1  - Krauth, Konstantin A.
A1  - Gerß, Joachim
A1  - Rosenbaum, Dieter
T1  - Physical activity and health-related quality of life in pediatric cancer patients following a 4-week inpatient rehabilitation program
JF  - Supportive Care in Cancer
N2  - Abstract
Purpose

Chronic health conditions and impaired quality of life are commonly experienced in childhood cancer survivors. While rehabilitation clinics support patients in coping with the disease, studies evaluating an inpatient rehabilitation program on promoting physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are missing.
Methods

A 4-week inpatient rehabilitation program was prospectively evaluated. One hundred fifty patients with leukemia or lymphoma (N = 86), brain tumors (N = 38), and sarcomas (N = 26) were enrolled on average 17 months after cessation of acute medical treatment. PA amount and cadence (indicating the intensity of walking activity) using the StepWatch™ 3 Activity Monitor and HRQoL global and physical well-being scores using the KINDL® questionnaire were assessed before, immediately after, and 6 and 12 months following the program and analyzed using multiple linear mixed models.
Results

Significant effects on PA were only found at 12-month follow-up for amount and cadence variables (all p < 0.05). While leukemia and lymphoma patients revealed the highest PA level throughout the study, rehabilitation effects were more pronounced for cadence variables in brain tumor and sarcoma patients. The rehabilitation program had immediate (t = 4.56, p < 0.001) and sustainable effects on HRQoL global scores (6-month follow-up, t = 4.08, p < 0.001; 12-month follow-up, t = 3.13, p < 0.006).
Conclusions

Immediate and sustainable increases in HRQoL indicate that a 4-week rehabilitation program is beneficial for improving psychosocial well-being, while the significant increase in PA levels could be related to general recovery as well. The lack of a control group hampers the evaluation of the rehabilitation program on promoting PA levels in pediatric cancer patients.
KW  - physical activity
KW  - quality of life
KW  - rehabilitation
KW  - pediatric oncology
KW  - childhood cancer
Y1  - 2016
UR  - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-016-3198-y#citeas
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3198-y
VL  - 24
SP  - 3793
EP  - 3802
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, Carsten
A1  - Rosenbaum, Dieter
A1  - Krauth, Konstantin A.
T1  - Prospective Evaluation of Postural Control and Gait in Pediatric Patients with Cancer After a 4-Week Inpatient Rehabilitation Program
JF  - American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation / Association of Academic Physiatrists
N2  - Objective 

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a 4-wk inpatient rehabilitation program on postural control and gait in pediatric patients with cancer.
Design 

Eighty-eight patients with brain tumors (n = 59) and bone/soft tissue sarcomas (n = 29) were evaluated. Postural control was assessed examining the velocity of the center of pressure and single-leg stance time on a pressure distribution platform. Walk ratio, a measure of neuromotor control, was used to evaluate intervention effects on gait.
Results 

Repeated measures analysis of variance showed improvements in postural control measures, indicated by a decrease in velocity of center of pressure of −0.4 cm/sec (F1,80 = 7.175, P = 0.009, ηp2 = 0.082) and increase in single-leg stance time (mean [median] = 1.1 [2.6] sec, respectively; F1,80 = 12.617, P = 0.001, ηp2 = 0.136). Walk ratio increased by 0.2 mm/steps per min (F1,82 = 3.766, P = 0.056, ηp2 = 0.044). Mean changes in dependent variables did not differ between both patient groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusions 

The results indicate benefits of an inpatient rehabilitation program comprising standard physical therapy as well as aquatic and hippo therapy on postural control and gait after treatment of pediatric patients with cancer.
KW  - Rehabilitation
KW  - Pediatrics
KW  - Postural Balance
KW  - Gait
Y1  - 2017
UR  - https://journals.lww.com/ajpmr/Abstract/2017/09000/Prospective_Evaluation_of_Postural_Control_and.8.aspx
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000000729
VL  - 96
IS  - 9
SP  - 646
EP  - 653
ER  -