TOPLINE

Preschool children newly diagnosed with cancer demonstrated clinically significant impairments in gross motor function, muscle strength, and functional level. More than three-quarters showed below-average or worse performance in locomotion, and 69% scored below average in functional mobility. 

METHODOLOGY

• Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study using baseline assessment data from the Rehabilitation including structured active Play for preschoolers with cancer trial at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark between 2021 and 2024.
• A total of 83 children aged 1 to 5 years (median age, 39 months) newly diagnosed with cancer were enrolled in the trial within 14 days of treatment initiation, with physical assessments scheduled within 14 days but accepted up to 4 weeks after treatment initiation.
• Researchers evaluated gross motor function using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–Second Edition (PDMS-2), functional level via the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), muscle strength with handgrip strength testing, and physical performance through the 6-minute walk test.
• The study population included 66% with hematological cancers, 16% with CNS tumors, and 18% with extracranial solid tumors; 99% were treated with chemotherapy, with vincristine and dexamethasone being the most common agents.

TAKEAWAY

• In the stationary domain of the PDMS-2, children scored a mean of 6.8, with 55% scoring below average; in locomotion, the mean was 5.7, with 81% below average; and in object manipulation, the mean was 7.6, with 38% below average.
• The gross motor quotient mean was 78.9, with 76% of children scoring below average, indicating clinically significant impairment in overall gross motor function.
• PEDI mobility data showed a mean normative standard score of 23.2, indicating decreased functional level, with 69% of children scoring below average.
• Mean handgrip strength for the dominant hand was 0.17 bar, with 78% of children performing below standard values; similar results were observed for the non-dominant hand. Only 7 children completed the 6-minute walk test, and 5 of 6 were below age-expected values.
• Children with CNS tumors had significantly lower object manipulation scores compared to those with hematological cancers (P = .02), though no significant differences were found in other domains across diagnostic groups.

IN PRACTICE

"Preschool children newly diagnosed with cancer have below-average gross motor function, functional level, and muscle strength, showing clinically significant impairment. These findings highlight the need for systematic early-initiated targeted physical rehabilitation as an integrated part of cancer treatment for all preschool-aged children," the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE

The study was led by Anna Pouplier, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was published online on August 18 in European Journal of Pediatrics.

LIMITATIONS

The study was single center and had a modest sample size. The 6-minute walk test had very limited data, limiting the generalizability of the findings. The interpretation of normative scores may have been affected by potential cross-cultural differences in motor development.

DISCLOSURES

The study was supported by grants from the Danish Cancer Society, the Danish Childhood Cancer Foundation, and Captain Aage Nielsen's Family Foundation. The authors reported no relevant conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.