Actively Recruiting
Led by University of Bern · Updated on 2025-08-12
70
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
52 weeks
Total Duration
U
University of Bern
Lead Sponsor
I
Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
Collaborating Sponsor
Researchers are studying how cognitively challenging physical activity affects children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years undergoing acute cancer therapy. This study aims to see if adding cognitive tasks to exercise improves thinking skills and motor performance compared to standard care. It builds on evidence that physical activity benefits cancer patients by enhancing fitness, sleep, fatigue, body image, and overall quality of life without harming treatment success. Participants are divided into two groups. One group receives usual care with general physical activity recommendations. The other group takes part in a specially designed 12-week program combining physical and cognitive exercises. These supervised sessions last 45 minutes, three times a week, with varying intensity tailored to each participant's condition. After the program, personalized exercise advice is provided to help reintegrate patients into everyday physical activities. Throughout the study, participants undergo several assessments using tasks like the Hearts and Flowers Task and Fish-Flanker Task to measure executive functions at baseline, six weeks, twelve weeks, and six months. Additional evaluations include tests of self-regulation, frailty, cardiovascular health, body composition, quality of life, fatigue, motor abilities, and physical activity enjoyment. Researchers also monitor exercise adherence and intervention feasibility, collecting data through diaries, questionnaires, and devices over the course of treatment and follow-up.
CONDITIONS
Effect of Cognitively Challenging Physical Activity on Executive Functions in Pediatric Cancer Patients
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Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 screening and enrollment visit (in-person)
Duration - 12 weeks
Participants engage in a 12-week cognitively challenging physical activity program designed for pediatric cancer patients undergoing acute therapy. Sessions last 45 minutes, occur three times weekly, and include warm-up, cognitive and physical tasks, and cool-down. Exercises are tailored to each participant's abilities. Physical activity recommendations are provided at baseline and after the intervention.
Three supervised sessions per week (in-person)
Duration - Up to 6 months after baseline
Participants are monitored with assessments of executive function, physical health, and quality of life up to 6 months after baseline to evaluate long-term effects of the intervention and provide tailored exercise recommendations.
Approximately 4 assessment visits (in-person) including follow-up measurement at 6 months
Total: 1 location
1
Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern
Bern, Switzerland, 3010
Actively Recruiting
V
Valentin Benzing, Dr.
E
Eva Brack, PD Dr. Dr.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
2
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Ann Christin Schneider, Lisa Hillebrecht, Lars Rehbein...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41351152