Feasibility of a digital exercise program in pediatric oncology

Introduction Children and adolescents move less than their peers during and after oncological treatment and have lower exercise capacity as well as health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Telemedicine is a promising approach for expanding the structure of care and reducing barriers such as distance, time and cost. This study investigates the feasibility and adherence of a digital exercise program in pediatric oncology as well as the impact on motor performance and HRQoL. Methods Children and adolescents aged 6-19 years during and after cancer treatment were included in the study. The intervention took place over a period of 8 weeks with a training recommendation of 2 sessions per week. The first three training sessions were carried out under direct supervision and then completed by the participants themselves under weekly telemedical supervision. The training plan was available in a digital program and could be accessed from any location. Adherence was assessed based on the completed number of training sessions. Motor performance and HRQoL were assessed at the beginning (t(0)) and after 8 weeks (t(1)). Results The study comprised ten participants, but only nine completed the intervention. The participants completed only 63% of the two training sessions per week. The most common reasons for non-participation or reduced participation (<2/week) were illness (43%) and medical procedures (29%). Improvements in motor performance were observed in single-leg stance and grip strength. HRQoL also improved in all therapy groups. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that a digital exercise program is feasible and safe in pediatric oncology. The implemented intervention seems promising in terms of reducing therapy-related inactivity and improving motor performance and HRQoL. The program offers the possibility of an individual training plan that is supervised by qualified professionals and can be carried out regardless of the distance to an oncological center of excellence. It can represent an additional component in sports and exercise therapy in pediatric oncology. However, a large-scale study is planned to confirm these assumptions.