Author(s): BABICOVÁ, M., NECHALOVÁ, L., HRIC, I., HLAVÁCOVÁ, V., SMAHOVÁ, S., KOLENOVÁ, A., BIELIK, V., Institution: FACULTY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT, COMENIUS UNIVERSITY IN BRATISLAVA, Country: SLOVAKIA, Abstract-ID: 1673

INTRODUCTION:
Pediatric individuals with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) undergo extensive chemotherapy treatment and, as a result, suffer from fatigue and, therefore, a decrease in their daily physical activity level. The symptoms of the treatment thus disable the participation of the children in sports and games, which play a major role in childhood and adolescence. Lack of physical activity induces impaired balance, strength, cardiovascular function, and mobility. Many of the negative effects persist even after the treatment. Exercise training is considered a safe and, at least partly, effective option for the improvement of overall health as well as for an increase in physical activity levels in child cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an 8-week exercise program on physical fitness in child cancer survivors and evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
METHODS:
This study is focused on the effect of home-based exercise program on child cancer survivors with ALL. Pediatric individuals who participated in this study were divided into two groups: a group that underwent an 8-week exercise program (EG, n=13) and a control group (CTRL, n=9). Hand grip strength (HGS) test, vertical jump (squat jump and countermovement jump) and psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) test were measured before and after 8 weeks of exercise program.
RESULTS:
We found a significant increase in the hand grip strength (HGS) test (p = 0.037) after
an 8-week exercise program in experimental group. Furthermore, we received positive feedback from parents and reported an 81.1 % rate of completion of the exercise program by child cancer survivors.
CONCLUSION:
The main findings from our study were positive changes in the hand grip strength (HGS) test after 8-week exercise program in child cancer survivors. The exercise program is a key tool for child cancer survivors to regain their physical fitness after medical treatment, making it easier to resume their activities of daily living.