Exercise and Cancer

In cooperation with the Children’s Hospital of the University Clinic of Heidelberg
(PIs: Joachim Wiskemann and Christine von Busch)

This project is conducted as a pilot study to examine the feasibility of a multimodal exercise intervention for children and adolescents during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The pilot study has been started in February 2009 and is ongoing. Currently 10 patients have been recruited. All participants and their parents fill out a standardized questionnaire concerning quality of life (KINDL and KINDL oncology module). In addition, physical performance (functional mobility and strength capacity) is assessed at admission to and after discharge from the hospital. All patients perform the multimodal exercise program consisting of 3 major components ([a]console-based exercising Nintendo Wii©, [b] activity stories for young children and [c] bedside exercises). A sport scientist supervises the training for 3 times a week and encourages the patients and their parents to train between the supervised sessions by themselves (particularly with the Nintendo Wii ©). Preliminary data analyses are currently not available because the study is still ongoing. First results suggest that patients’ and parents’ acceptance to the program is high and physical activity increases.