Effectiveness of exergaming in reducing cancer-related fatigue among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effectiveness of the newly emerging technology of exergaming in reducing Cancer Related Fatigue (CRF). OBJECTIVES: The study's primary aim was to examine the effectiveness of exergaming in reducing CRF; the secondary aims were to improve functional capacity/endurance and promote physical activity (PA) among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: In this Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), 45 children aged 6-14 years were randomly assigned into group-I, n = 22, and group II, n = 23. Group-I played exergaming of moderate intensity for 60 min, twice a week for three weeks. Group II was given an instructional session regarding the benefits of PA with advice to practice PA for 60 min twice a week. CRF, functional capacity/endurance, and PA were measured using the pediatric quality of life multidimensional fatigue scale (Ped-QLMFS), six-minute walk test (6-MWT), and Godin-Shepard Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (QSLTPAQ) respectively. All measurements were taken thrice; in the first, third, and fifth weeks of intervention. RESULTS: Group-I demonstrated a significant reduction of CRF, and a significant increase of functional capacity/endurance compared to group-II over the five weeks study period. The effect of time × intervention interaction was significant. Based on Cohen's guidelines, CRF and functional capacity/endurance had large effect sizes (η2 = 0.41, p = .00) and (η2 = 0.27, p = .00) respectively. CONCLUSION: The protocol of exergaming used in this RCT effectively reduces CRF and promotes functional capacity/endurance and PA in children with ALL undergoing chemotherapy. It may provide an alternative treatment modality to decrease the healthcare load.Key messagesCancer-related fatigue (CRF) is described as physical exhaustion, sleep disturbance, emotional distress, and cognitive dysfunction.Exergaming reduces CRF and promotes functional capacity/endurance and physical activity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia undergoing chemotherapy.Exergaming may provide an alternative treatment modality to decrease the healthcare load.

Reference values for the Modified Timed Up and Go Test in Saudi children aged 4-12 years old in Riyadh city: cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to report within-session reliability, estimate the reference values for the Modified Timed Up and Go (mTUG) test in typically developing (TD) Saudi children aged 4-12 years old, develop a reference equation for the estimated mTUG, and compare the measured mTUG in the present study with the predicted mTUG obtained from the previous regression equation. METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, anthropometric measurements and mTUG test were investigated in 805 child. The association between the mTUG test and predictive variables was studied. RESULTS: Average mTUG speed was 4.63 ± 0.68 s. Within-session reliability was excellent with intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.90. The test was significantly and negatively correlated with age, height, and weight (r = -0.66, p = .00), (r = -0.54, p = .01), and (r = -0.33, p = .01) respectively. According to the stepwise regression analysis, age and weight were the predictors and explained 47% of total variance of mTUG scores. CONCLUSION: This study provided the mTUG reference values that can be used clinically to evaluate functional mobility and dynamic balance in TD Saudi children aged 4-12 years. The mTUG scores can be predicted as a function of age and weight.KEY MESSAGESModified Timed Up and Go test used to assess the functional mobility and dynamic balance for children with or without developmental abnormalities.Availability of reference values according to age is helpful to compare the performance of children at same ages.