Effects of a Whole-Body Vibration Intervention in Children and Adolescents after Inpatient Anticancer Therapy on Ankle Dorsiflexion Function and Balance Control

Sarah Otten, Aram Prokop, Vanessa Oschwald, Volker Maas, Fiona Streckmann, Wilhelm Bloch, Jonas Krumbach, Stefanie Willibald, Julia Däggelmann

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Abstract

Purpose: Ankle dorsiflexion (DF) function (strength, range of motion (ROM)) and balance control are often impaired in children and adolescents after inpatient anticancer therapy. However, adequate functional capacity of the lower limbs is prerequisite for mobility and for being active in general. Whole-body vibration (WBV) aims to improve those variables.
Methods: Eight children after inpatient anticancer therapy (mixed diagnoses, age: 6-17) participated in a twelve-week WBV intervention. Training was offered three times a week (1x supervised, 2x home-based). Training was performed on a side-alternating vibration platform. The training sessions included one warm-up (60 sec, 18 Hz, 2mm peak-to-peak amplitude) and 5-10 progressive training exercises (60-90 sec, 18-27 Hz, 2mm peak-to-peak amplitude). Two testings were performed before and after the intervention assessing balance control (one-leg stance), ankle dorsiflexor strength (hand-held dynamometry) and active DF ROM (measured with bent and straight legs, goniometry).
Results: Positive trends were reported in balance control, strength of ankle DF and active ankle DF-ROM with straight legs. Active DF-ROM with bent legs was significantly improved.
Conclusions: The results indicate that our WBV-intervention, combining supervised and home-based training sessions, can improve all of the three focused parameters, especially active DF-ROM. Consequently, the barriers for a regained higher level of physical activity can be considerably reduced. WBV might be a promising modality to improve lower limb function in pediatric oncology.

Disclosure Statement: The authors have no conflicts to disclosure.
Original languageEnglish
JournalOncology Research And Treatment
Volume43
Issue numberS1
Pages (from-to)183
Number of pages1
Publication statusPublished - 02.2020
Event34. Deutscher Krebskongress : informativ. innovativ. integrativ. Optimale Versorgung für alle. - Berlin, Germany
Duration: 19.02.202022.02.2020
Conference number: 34

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