Müller C, et al. - This research scrutinized the impacts of a 4-wk inpatient rehabilitation program on postural control and gait in pediatric patients with cancer. This study highlighted benefits of an inpatient rehabilitation program comprising standard physical therapy and also aquatic and hippo therapy on postural control and gait after treatment of pediatric patients with cancer.

Methods

• For this purpose, 88 patients with brain tumors (n = 59) and bone/soft tissue sarcomas (n = 29) were assessed.
• Postural control was evaluated analyzing the velocity of the center of pressure and single-leg stance time on a pressure distribution platform.
• Walk ratio, a measure of neuromotor control, was utilized to assess intervention effects on gait.

Results

• Based on the results of the present study, repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated improvements in postural control measures, showed by a decrease in velocity of center of pressure of -0.4 cm/sec (F_1,80 = 7.175, P = 0.009, η_p² = 0.082) and increase in single-leg stance time (mean [median] = 1.1 [2.6] sec, respectively; F_1,80 = 12.617, P = 0.001, η_p² = 0.136).
• Walk ratio increased by 0.2 mm/steps per min (F_1,82 = 3.766, P = 0.056, η_p² = 0.044).
• Mean changes in dependent variables did not differ between both patient groups (P > 0.05).