UBC Theses and Dissertations

UBC Theses Logo

UBC Theses and Dissertations

The recovery patterns and effects of exercise rehabilitation on the physiological and psychological health of children who have survived treatment for a malignancy Niesen-Vertommen, Sherri

Abstract

Two studies were conducted. A longitudinal study (12 months) was designed to describe the physiological and psychological recovery patterns in a group of pediatric patients who were recently treated for a malignancy. An intervention program (12 week rehabilitation exercise program), was used to separate the effects of deconditioning from the disease and/or its treatment in children who had been out of treatment for a malignancy for at least one year. In the twelve month study, 10 pediatric patients recently out of treatment and 10 healthy controls were tested at 0, 6, 12 weeks and 6 and 12 months. In the twelve week study, 18 patients and 52 healthy controls were assigned to an exercise or no exercise group and were tested at 0, 6 and 12 weeks. At each test session, all subjects were tested for measures of height, weight, sum of skin folds, blood pressure, and pulmonary function. Each subject completed a 30s Wingate test on a cycle ergometer, for measures of anaerobic capacity, and a maximal oxygen consumption test (15 or 20 W/min, ramp protocol) to volitional fatigue for measures of aerobic fitness. A measurement of self-esteem and self-confidence were tested using the Harter scale Self-Perception Profile for Children and Adolescents. All subjects were also evaluated at 0 and 12 weeks (again at 6 and 12 months in the 12 month study) using Doppler and M-mode echocardiography to note cardiovascular changes during semi-supine exercise. Results of both studies show no significant differences between the patients and the healthy controls in any of the physiology, psychology, or cardiology measures. The patients did demonstrate a similar response to exercise in many measures but their values were reduced in magnitude. The patients consistently performed below both the healthy controls in all physiological and cardiology measures but these trends were not statistically significant. It would appear that the majority of children and adolescent patients who were followed in this study are functioning remarkably well both physically and psychologically compared to their healthy controls.

Item Media

Item Citations and Data

Rights

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.