Telerehabilitation-Based Dance Therapy in Pediatric Cancer
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age6-14
SponsorAkdeniz University
About this trial
Childhood cancer requires prolonged and intensive treatment, resulting in significant biopsychosocial challenges for affected children and their families. During and following treatment, children frequently experience impairments in fine and gross motor skills, reduced physical capacity, emotional difficulties, and decreased participation in daily activities. Within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY), these impairments in body structure and function may negatively influence activity, participation, and overall quality of life.
Dance therapy is a holistic rehabilitation approach that integrates rhythm, structured movement, and emotional expression to enhance motor performance, body awareness, and psychosocial well-being. Emerging evidence suggests that dance-based interventions may contribute to improved pain management, psychological resilience, and emotional health in pediatric oncology populations. However, access to structured physical activity programs remains limited due to treatment-related fatigue, infection risk, travel burden, time constraints, and financial costs.
Telerehabilitation may overcome these barriers by delivering therapy remotely, thereby improving accessibility, reducing logistical constraints, and ensuring continuity of care.
The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effects of an 8-week telerehabilitation-based dance therapy program (twice weekly, 35-40 minutes per session) on fine and gross motor skills, health-related quality of life, participation in home, school, and community settings, and motivation in children undergoing or recently completing cancer treatment.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Children aged 6-14 years diagnosed with a hematological malignancy or solid tumor by a pediatric oncology specialist.
Currently undergoing treatment or within 6 months after completion of treatment (for hematological malignancies: during maintenance therapy or ≤6 months post-treatment; for solid tumors: during treatment or ≤6 months post-treatment).
Medically stable and cleared by the treating clinical team to participate in moderate physical activity/dance therapy.
Able to stand independently and perform movements without assistive devices.
Disqualifiers
Pre-existing genetic, neurological, developmental, or motor disorders diagnosed prior to cancer diagnosis that may affect motor performance.
Medical contraindications to exercise (e.g., unresolved fractures, severe avascular necrosis, recent bone marrow transplantation, or other conditions restricting physical activity as determined by the treating physician).
Inability to maintain stable internet connectivity required for telerehabilitation sessions.
Previous structured dance therapy participation within the last 6 months.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Telerehabilitation-Based Dance Therapy Program
Other interventionThe intervention will be conducted twice weekly for 8 weeks, with each session lasting 35-40 minutes. The program will include structured rhythmic movements, coordination exercises, balance activities, and creative movement components designed to improve fine and gross motor proficiency, body awareness, and participation.
Standard Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Group
Other interventionThe program will be conducted twice weekly for 8 weeks. The standard physiotherapy program will consist of: Strengthening exercises Flexibility exercises Balance training Gait training Coordination exercises Each session will last approximately 35-40 minutes.
Treatment groups
30 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: Experimental: Telerehabilitation-Based Dance Therapy GroupExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Active Comparator: Standard Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation GroupActive comparator 1 intervention
Group C: No Intervention Comparator: Usual Care Control GroupNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Cancer Module
The PedsQL Cancer Module is a validated instrument designed to assess health-related quality of life in children with cancer. Both child self-report and parent proxy-report forms will be used, as appropriate for age. The scale consists of 26 items across eight domains: pain, nausea, procedural anxiety, treatment anxiety, worry, cognitive problems, perceived physical appearance, and communication. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale and transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.
Time frame
Change from baseline to the end of the 8-week intervention period2
Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition - Short Form (BOT-2 SF)
The BOT-2 SF is a norm-referenced assessment of fine and gross motor proficiency for children aged 4-21 years. The short form consists of 14 items derived from the full version and evaluates fine manual control, manual coordination, body coordination, strength, and agility. Raw scores will be converted to standard scores and percentiles according to age norms. Higher scores indicate better motor performance.
Time frame
Change from baseline to the end of the 8-week intervention periodSecondary outcomes
1
Pediatric Motivation Scale (PMOT)
The Pediatric Motivation Scale evaluates motivation to participate in rehabilitation programs in children aged 8-18 years. The scale consists of 21 items across six domains: effort/importance, interest/enjoyment, competence, relatedness, autonomy, and value/usefulness. The first 19 items are rated on a 6-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater motivation. Items 20 and 21 are open-ended and will be descriptively analyzed.
Time frame
Change from baseline to the end of the 8-week intervention period2
Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY)
The PEM-CY is a parent-report questionnaire assessing participation and environmental factors in home, school, and community settings. It includes 25 activity types (10 home, 5 school, 10 community). For each activity, parents report participation frequency, level of involvement (5-point scale), and whether change is desired. Higher participation frequency and involvement scores indicate greater participation.
Time frame
Change from baseline to the end of the 8-week intervention periodSponsors and contacts
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Akdeniz University
Lead sponsor
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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