Associating Physical Activity Levels with Motor Performance and Physical Function in Childhood Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

Purpose: This cross-sectional, observational study investigated whether physical activity (PA) levels are associated with motor performance and physical function in children after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Method: Participants aged 8-13 years who had completed treatment for ALL (3-36 months post-treatment) were tested at their oncology long-term follow-up appointment at the British Columbia Children's Hospital. PA level was measured using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Motor performance was measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, Short Form (BOT-2 SF), and physical function was measured using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Results: Thirteen children completed testing. PAQ-C scores were not associated with BOT-2 SF or 6MWT performance. Eleven children (85%) performed below the norm for the 6MWT. Children with elevated body mass index had poorer 6MWT but similar PAQ-C scores. Conclusion: PA was not found to be associated with motor performance and physical function. Participants who were overweight or obese had poorer 6MWT performance, which may indicate the need for closer monitoring of post-treatment weight status and physical function in the oncology follow-up setting.Key Words: acute lymphoblastic leukemia; body mass index; motor skills; physical activity; physical fitness. RÉ SUMÉObjectif : cette é tude observationnelle à mé thodologie transversale portait sur le lien potentiel entre le niveau d'activité physique (AP) et la capacité motrice et physique des enfants ayant reç u un traitement contre la leucé mie lymphoblastique aiguë (LLA). Mé thode : des participants â gé s de 8 à 13 ans ayant reç u un traitement contre la LLA (de 3 à 36 mois aprè s le traitement) ont é té é valué s lors de leur rendez-vous de suivi à long terme en oncologie au British Columbia Children's Hospital. Le niveau d'AP a é té mesuré à l'aide du Questionnaire de mesure de l'activité physique chez les enfants (PAQ-C). La capacité motrice a é té mesuré e à l'aide du Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Deuxiè me é dition, Formulaire court (BOT-2 SF) et la capacité physique a é té mesuré e à l'aide du test de marche de 6 minutes (6MWT). Ré sultats : treize enfants ont effectué les tests. Aucun lien n'a é té observé entre les scores du PAQ-C et les ré sultats du BOT-2 SF ni ceux du 6MWT. Onze enfants (85 %) ont obtenu un ré sultat infé rieur à la norme au 6MWT. Les enfants ayant un indice de masse corporelle é levé ont obtenu des ré sultats plus faibles au 6MWT, mais des ré sultats similaires au PAQ-C. Conclusion : le niveau d'AP ne semble pas avoir de lien avec la capacité motrice ou physique. Les participants en surpoids et obè ses ont obtenu des ré sultats plus faibles au 6MWT, ce qui peut indiquer un besoin de surveillance plus é troit du poids et de la capacité physique aprè s le traitement lors des rendez-vous de suivi en oncologie.Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy in Canada, a...

Childhood Leukemia Survivors and Metabolic Response to Exercise: A Pilot Controlled Study

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Investigating fine motor deficits during maintenance therapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

“…[10][11][12] De Luca et al 29 30 In the present study, the fine motor skills were evaluated using the complete fine motor form of BOT-2 (including 27 tasks divided into four subtests) because the short form of BOT-2 does not distinguish between gross and fine motor scores, resulting in misleading interpretations. 31 Accordingly, the higher percentage of fine motor impairments observed in this study may be-in part-attributed to the thorough evaluation of various fine motor subtests in children with ALL. Other possible contributing factors include the relatively large sample size in the current study compared with previous literature, selection of a specific age range (4-7 years), and the addition of a healthy control group matched for age and sex.…”

“…Unlike the BOT‐2, which measures a wide range of skills, the manual dexterity subtest of the Movement Assessment Battery includes only three tasks that are limited to a certain age band 30 . In the present study, the fine motor skills were evaluated using the complete fine motor form of BOT‐2 (including 27 tasks divided into four subtests) because the short form of BOT‐2 does not distinguish between gross and fine motor scores, resulting in misleading interpretations 31 …”