Efficacy of interdisciplinary rehabilitation in child cancer survivors: Impact on physical fitness, fatigue and body composition after 1‐year follow‐up

Objective Childhood cancer survivors experience reduced physical activity level, participation as well as health‐related quality of life. This prospective, pre‐/post‐intervention and follow‐up cohort study aims to determine the efficacy of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation on improving physical fitness, fatigue and body composition. Methods A total of 24 childhood cancer survivors (mean age: 12.15 years ± 3.2; 14 females; 10 males) were recruited 6 months after medical treatment and received a 4‐month interdisciplinary intervention. Cardiorespiratory fitness (PredVO2peak and PredLoadmax), body composition (dry lean weight) and quality of life (general fatigue) were assessed at baseline, post‐intervention and 1‐year follow‐up. Linear mixed models were used to analyse data. Results Linear mixed modelling revealed a significant main effect of time on predicted maximal load (F = 13.189, df = 36.179, p