title: Eurythmy therapy in the aftercare of pediatric posterior fossa tumour survivors--a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediatric posterior fossa brain tumour survivors are burdened with extensive neurologic, emotional, behavioral and mental impairments. Even long-term common remediation therapies such as conventional physical therapy and occupational therapy do not warrant full recovery. Innovative complementary therapy strategies offer a new option that needs evaluation. EYT is a movement therapy that belongs to the field of mind-body therapies (MBTs). This holistic approach aims to promote self-regulation and self-healing powers e.g. in cancer patients. This pilot study is a first attempt to assess the feasibility, treatment adherence and impact of eurythmy therapy (EYT) in pediatric neurooncology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven posterior fossa tumour survivors who each participated in 25 EYT interventions over 6 months were followed for an additional 6 months. The outcome parameters cognitive functioning, neuromotor functioning and visuomotor integration were assessed at baseline as well as six and 12 months afterwards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found good adherence and improvements in cognitive and neuromotor functioning in all children and better visuomotor integration in 5/7 children after 6 months. After 12 months, neuromotor functioning and visuomotor integration diminished again to some extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EYT in pediatric cerebellar tumour survivors is feasible and patients may profit from this new approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Task Force Integrative Medicine in Pediatric Oncology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. jenny-lena.kanitz@charite.de
authors.forename: Jenny Lena
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kanitz
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pretzer
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calaminus
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiener
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Längler
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Henze
authors.forename: Pablo Hernáiz
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Driever
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seifert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015192:Infratentorial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D009068:Movement; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010372:Pediatrics; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome