Physical Activity and Health of Children With Cancer in Remission

The Effect of Physical Activity on the Mental and Physical Health of Children With Cancer in Remission

Physical activity is a well-known and powerful tool in medicine,having preventive, palliative, and curative properties. This has not been sufficiently examined in children in remission from cancer. In this study, children in remission from cancer will be divided into exercise and control groups. The interventional group will perform two supervised, 60-minute weekly exercise sessions. Outcome measures of the exercise intervention will be quality of life, mood, cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition and bone mineral density.

Inclusion Criteria:

• children aged 6-16
• remission from cancer
• >6 months after completion of all therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• informed consent not given in writing
• refusal of tests: blood, fitness, questionnaires or DEXA
• locomotive handicaps
• extreme fatigue, nausea, dyspnea
• concurrent acute illness
• recent (less than 3 months) hospitalization
• documented (echocardiographic or nuclear medicine) decrease in cardiac function
• abnormal blood tests: Hb < 10 gr/dl, neutropenia < 500/mm3, thrombocytopenia < 50,000/mm3
• additional chronic health conditions unrelated to cancer (e.g. celiac disease, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome)