Design and implementation of a home-based online exercise program for individu-als surviving cancer

Abstract

Starting point: Pediatric individuals with acute lymphoblastic leukemia undergo extensive chemotherapy treatment and, as a result, suffer from fatigue and, therefore, a decrease in their daily physical activity level, even after the cessation of the treatment. The symptoms of post-treatment thus disable the participation of the children in sports and games, which play a major role in childhood and adolescence. Group: Thirteen 5- to 15-year-old individuals surviving cancer with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (1 and 3 years after cancer treatment) were recruited to an 8-week home-based exercise program. Methods: This study aims to present the design and possibilities of implementing a home-based online exercise program for children who have overcome cancer, taking into account their age and the logistical availability of such physical therapy. Results: Thirteen individuals completed the home-based online exercise program, and the success rate of participation ranged from 79.2% to 95.8%. The overall success rate was 85.6%. The design and implementation of a home-based online exercise program in our conditions proved to be advantageous and often the only way to allow individuals surviving cancer to exercise in real-time, as the distance of many families from exercise centers proved to be a significant obstacle in creating habits of regular exercise in children. Conclusions: We demonstrated that individuals surviving cancer and their parents are interested in physical activity interventions and a home-based online exercise program is available and convenient.