DYNAMIC BALANCE EVALUATION IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA UNDERGOING CONSOLIDATION THERAPY

Objective

This study aims to clinically assess the dynamic balance performance in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) undergoing consolidation therapy by comparing their performance with normative data, thereby identifying potential treatment-related impairments in this population.

Methodology

This descriptive study was conducted at Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in Turkey. Fifteen children with ALL were enrolled and divided into the following age groups: 6–7 years (n = 8), 8–9 years (n = 4), 10–11 years (n = 1), 12–13 years (n = 1), and 14–15 years (n = 1). All participants underwent the Limit of Stability (LOS) test using a Balance Master NeuroCom system, which quantifies key parameters including Reaction Time (RT), Movement Velocity (MVL), Directional Control (DCL), Maximum Excursion (MXE), and Endpoint Excursion (EPE). Given the minimal sample sizes in the 10–11, 12–13, and 14–15 years groups, the primary analysis focused on the 6–7 and 8–9 years groups. Normative data for each parameter were extracted from previous studies using the Balance Master LOS test in healthy children.

Results

In the 6–7 years group, the average RT was 1.05 seconds (norm: 0.79s), and MVL was 4.31°/s (norm: 4.64°/s). In contrast, DCL was 62.25% (norm: 52.50%), MXE reached 88.0% (norm: 83.3%), and EPE was 66.5% (norm: 64.54%). In the 8–9 years group, the average RT was 1.06 seconds (norm: 0.82s), and MVL was 3.7°/s (norm: 5.42°/s), while DCL was elevated at 73.50% (norm: 60.20%). Both MXE (88.0%) and EPE (79.75%) in this group were comparable to their respective normative values (83.2% and 69.2%).

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that postural control is compromised in children with ALL undergoing consolidation therapy. Elevated sway speeds on firm surfaces suggest diminished balance performance, while the mixed results on foam conditions highlight difficulties with sensory integration. These preliminary observations underscore the need for targeted interventions and further research with larger samples to clarify the mechanisms behind these deficits.