Physical activity in children treated for cancer

Introduction: Physical activity is a very important and still not enough appreciated factor of neoplastic diseases prevention. It has been therefore verified that physical exercises have a positive influence on both the patients during treatment and after recovering from neoplastic diseases. Motor activities are evidently part of somatic and motor development providing physical, psychical and social benefits.

The aim of the paper was to present accessible methods of research concerning physical activity assessment as well as comparing its findings in a group of healthy children and those treated for the neoplasm.

Results: It has been indicated that the level of physical activity depends on many factors, such as gender, age or stature together with a health state, condition of organs, systems and lifestyle. As the results have shown, the children treated for neoplastic diseases demonstrate lower level of physical activity than their healthy peers.

Conclusions: Educating in the benefits of physical activity plays a significant role among the doctors, teachers, parents, but mainly the patients. Therefore, the children engaged in motor activities feel better, exhibit better disease immunity, slower fatigue and quicker recovery.