title: Impairments of Lower Extremity Muscle Strength and Balance in Childhood Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Systematic Review.
abstract: This review aims to summarize the evidence for impairments of muscle strength and balance during and after treatment for childhood cancer. Thirty-two articles, identified in scientific databases by means of a structured search for investigations of muscle strength and balance in pediatric cancer patients and survivors, are evaluated. A summary of results is given with respect to matching reporting items to provide a qualitative analysis of the evidence. The majority of the studies reached a level 3 rating according to Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) 2011 levels of evidence. Muscle strength and balance seem to be impaired in varying degrees depending on the diagnosis, treatment received, and time elapsed between treatment and evaluation. Drawing specific conclusions from the identified studies is difficult because of heterogeneous study samples and methods of research. Individual targeted exercise therapy programs during treatment and follow-up of childhood cancer could help to prevent and further diminish impairments of muscle strength and balance function among childhood cancer patients and survivors.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Exercise and Public Health, Faculty of Sport Science , University of Leipzig , Leipzig , Germany.|b Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Hemostaseology , University Hospital Leipzig , Leipzig , Germany.
authors.forename: Regine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Söntgerath
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Exercise and Public Health, Faculty of Sport Science , University of Leipzig , Leipzig , Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eckert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance
keywords: adolescent; cancer; child; muscle strength; postural balance; survivors