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Effectiveness of a dose-graded aerobic exercise regimen on cardiopulmonary fitness and physical performance in pediatric survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a randomized clinical trial

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine whether a 12-week supervised dose-graded aerobic exercise (D-GAE) training, when implemented in conjunction with traditional rehabilitation, could help pediatric survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) enhance their cardiopulmonary capacity and improve their physical performance.

Methods

Fifty-eight pediatric survivors of ALL (age 13.78 ± 2.47 years; boys 60.34%) were assigned at random to either undergo the D-GAE in addition to the traditional physical rehabilitation (D-GAE group; n = 29) or the traditional physical rehabilitation solely (control group; n = 29). The cardiopulmonary fitness (peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), ventilatory equivalent (VEq/VO2), minute ventilation (VE, L/min), oxygen pulse (O2P), maximum heart rate (HRmax), 1-min heart rate recovery (HRR1), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER)) and physical performance (6-min walk test (6-MWT), timed up and down stairs (TUDS), and 4 × 10-m shuttle run test (4 × 10mSRT)) were assessed on the pre- and post-intervention occasions.

Results

The mixed-model ANOVA revealed a meaningful increase of VO2peak (P = .002), VE (P = .026), O2P (P = .0009), HRmax (P = .004), and HRR1 (P = .011), and reduction of VEq/VO2 (P = .003) and RER (P = .003) in the D-GAE group compared with the control group. Besides, the analysis detected a favorable increase in the physical performance for the D-GAE group (6-MWT (P = .007), TUDS (P < .001), 4 × 10mSRT (P = .009)).

Conclusion

A 12-week D-GAE program in conjunction with traditional rehabilitation holds promise in enhancing cardiopulmonary fitness and improving the physical performance of pediatric survivors of ALL. Clinicians and physical rehabilitation professionals can, therefore, integrate the D-GAE into the traditional rehabilitation protocols for such a patient population to optimize their cardiopulmonary fitness and physical function, while also facilitating a gradual transition to practice and adaption.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

The favorable outcomes of this study bolster the inclusion of D-GAE as a crucial element in the care and rehabilitation of pediatric survivors of ALL. By embracing these findings, healthcare professionals and oncologists can contribute to mitigating the long-term cardiopulmonary and physical complications associated with cancer treatments and fostering a state of enhanced well-being and increased physical activity among survivors.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on reasonable request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research through the project number (IF-PSAU-2022/03/22468).

Funding

The authors received funding from the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia, through the project number (IF-PSAU-2022/03/22468).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia

    Ragab K. Elnaggar & Ahmad M. Osailan

  2. Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Ragab K. Elnaggar, Mohammed F. Elbanna & Amira M. Abd-Elmonem

  3. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammed F. Elbanna

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  1. Ragab K. Elnaggar
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  3. Mohammed F. Elbanna
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  4. Amira M. Abd-Elmonem
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study’s conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by RKE, AMO, and MFE. The first draft of the manuscript was written by RKE and AMA, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ragab K. Elnaggar.

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Elnaggar, R.K., Osailan, A.M., Elbanna, M.F. et al. Effectiveness of a dose-graded aerobic exercise regimen on cardiopulmonary fitness and physical performance in pediatric survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a randomized clinical trial. J Cancer Surviv (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-024-01534-1

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