Walk, Run, Jump, and Thrive: Physical Therapy Assessment and Intervention for Children with Cancer

April 13, 2012 - CANCELLED

8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day | 2006 Health Science Center, UW-La Crosse
$185 includes course materials, lunch and refreshments | ($155, UW-L Physical Therapy alumni)
8 contact hours

Children who are treated for cancer are at risk for decreased functional status both during and after their treatment. Decreased physical function due to treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphoma, and CNS tumors may lead to decreased overall activity levels and an increased risk of obesity, decreased bone mineral density and later in life cardiovascular disease. Now that the vast majority of children survive cancer treatment, we must understand the physical deficits that this treatment brings and intervene in order to maintain normal motor development and improve their quality of life during and after treatment.

Treatment for childhood cancer can be quite intense and often is prolonged over months and years. In addition to the potential impact of surgery and radiation therapy, chemotherapeutic agents that are known to be toxic to the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal system are commonly used in childhood cancer. Physical therapists must understand cancer-related impairments and choose appropriate outcome measurements in order to design a successful plan of care.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the typical treatment regimen for children with leukemia, lymphoma and CNS tumors
  • Describe the current literature on physical impairments, motor performance deficits in children with leukemia, lymphoma and CNS tumors
  • Discuss the pros and cons of different outcome measurements to use in these populations
  • Describe intervention techniques to address common physical impairments and motor performance deficits in children with leukemia, lymphoma and CNS tumors

Instructors:

Laura Gilchrist, PT, Ph.D., is an associate professor of physical therapy at St. Catherine University and a Clinical Research Scientist at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Her research focuses on cancer-related impairments of the neuromuscular systems. She is currently the primary investigator of a study on the prevalence and persistence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in children undergoing chemotherapy and a second study on motor performance deficits in children undergoing cancer therapy.

Lynn Tanner, PT, earned a BA in child psychology from the University of Minnesota and a masters in physical therapy from the Mayo School of Health-Related Sciences. She has worked at Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota for the past eight years and has focused on the oncology population the last six years.

Download Brochure