title: Prospective Evaluation of Postural Control and Gait in Pediatric Patients with Cancer After a 4-Week Inpatient Rehabilitation Program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a 4-wk inpatient rehabilitation program on postural control and gait in pediatric patients with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight patients with brain tumors (n = 59) and bone/soft tissue sarcomas (n = 29) were evaluated. Postural control was assessed examining the velocity of the center of pressure and single-leg stance time on a pressure distribution platform. Walk ratio, a measure of neuromotor control, was used to evaluate intervention effects on gait.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated measures analysis of variance showed improvements in postural control measures, indicated by a decrease in velocity of center of pressure of -0.4 cm/sec (F1,80 = 7.175, P = 0.009, ηp = 0.082) and increase in single-leg stance time (mean [median] = 1.1 [2.6] sec, respectively; F1,80 = 12.617, P = 0.001, ηp = 0.136). Walk ratio increased by 0.2 mm/steps per min (F1,82 = 3.766, P = 0.056, ηp = 0.044). Mean changes in dependent variables did not differ between both patient groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate benefits of an inpatient rehabilitation program comprising standard physical therapy as well as aquatic and hippo therapy on postural control and gait after treatment of pediatric patients with cancer.
authors.affiliation: From the Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Work Unit Performance and Training in Sports, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (CM); Institute of Experimental Musculoskeletal Medicine, Movement Analysis Laboratory, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany (CM, DR); and Klinik Bad Oexen, Kinderhaus, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany (KAK).
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: Konstantin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Krauth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome