Ankle Dorsiflexion in Childhood Cancer Patients: A Review of the Literature.
BACKGROUND
Improved treatment protocols necessary for survival in pediatric oncology are associated with the development of serious late effects. Of particular importance, especially with regard to physical activity, may be ankle dorsiflexion (DF).


OBJECTIVE
This review summarizes the results of observational and exercise intervention studies exploring ankle DF-range of motion (DF-ROM) and/or ankle DF strength in pediatric oncology.


METHODS
PUBMED, Medline, Cochrane library, and SportDiscus were searched by 2 researchers using predefined search terms. The reference lists of included papers and Google scholar were then searched to that ensure all appropriate articles were included.


RESULTS
Twelve studies were identified and were observational (n = 8), providing information regarding the status of DF-ROM and/or DF strength, or intervention studies (n = 4) using exercise as a strategy to improve DF function. All observational studies reported some degree of impairment in ankle DF. Two intervention studies found a positive effect of exercise on ankle DF-ROM.


CONCLUSIONS
The preliminary results suggest that pediatric cancer patients and survivors suffer from limitations in ankle DF with interventions varying in efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
It is hoped that this review will enhance the recognition of the limited ankle DF function in pediatric oncology and initiate further research programs focused on targeting and evaluating ankle DF.
Author Affiliations: Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sport Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany (Ms Beulertz and Drs Bloch and Baumann); Faculty of Kinesiology (Ms Wurz and Drs Culos-Reed and Chamorro Viña) and Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine (Dr Culos-Reed) University of Calgary, Canada; and Department of Psychosocial Resources, Tom Baker Cancer Centre (Dr Culos-Reed), Calgary, Canada.
Julia
J
Beulertz
Amanda
A
Wurz
Nicole
N
Culos-Reed
Carolina
C
Chamorro Viña
Wilhelm
W
Bloch
Freerk T
FT
Baumann
D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular