title: Comparison of self-reported physical activity in children and adolescents before and during cancer treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activities are important for the development of children and increasing evidence suggests beneficial effects of physical activity promotion during cancer treatment as well. The present study aimed at evaluating the current need of exercise interventions in pediatric cancer patients undergoing acute treatment and identifying risk factors for inactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data about self-reported physical activity before and during treatment was collected in a cross-sectional design with the physical activity questionnaire from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) in a modified cancer specific version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred thirty pediatric cancer patients with various entities were questioned 3.0 ± 1.6 months since diagnosis. Patients' activity levels before diagnosis mainly matched reference values for healthy children in Germany. Reductions during treatment affected all dimensions of daily physical activities and minutes of exercise per week decreased significantly (P < 0.001). Largest reductions of physical activities during treatment were identified for bone tumor patients and in-patient stays.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the well known importance of physical activity during childhood and the identified risk of inactivity during cancer treatment, supervised exercise interventions should be implemented into acute treatment phase to enhance activity levels and ensure a continuously support by qualified exercise professionals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Götte
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kesting
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D007938:Leukemia / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D010988:Play and Playthings; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D057566:Self Report; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking
keywords: acute treatment; bone tumor; exercise; leukemia; pediatric cancer patients; physical activity