Limitation of ankle range of motion in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A cross-sectional study

✍ Scribed by Wright, Marilyn J.; Halton, Jacqueline M.; Barr, Ronald D.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 60 KB
• Volume: 32
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0098-1532
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-911x(199904)32:4<279::aid-mpo7>3.0.co;2-t

✦ Synopsis

Background. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and determine the factors related to active and passive dorsiflexion range of motion (DF-ROM) in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which is the most obvious impairment of musculoskeletal function in such children. Procedure. The subjects included 54 survivors of ALL treated on Dana-Farber Cancer Institute protocols and 54 comparable healthy children. Bilateral active and passive DF-ROM were measured with the knee extended. Results. The survivors of ALL had significantly less active and passive DF-ROM (6.4 vs. 16.8, 10.5 vs. 18.8 degrees, respectively, P < 0.001) than the comparison children. Weight for age at the time of assessment and change in height during treatment showed significant negative correlations with DF-ROM. Length of time-off treatment was not associated with DF-ROM. Conclusions. Multiple regression analyses identi- fied the variables of age at diagnosis and gender as significant predictors of both DF-ROM measures following treatment. Children diagnosed at a younger age and females were at greater risk for restricted DF-ROM. Close monitoring and preventative therapy programs for this complication are warranted for children, especially young girls receiving treatment for ALL.