Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Telerehabilitation-Based Dance Therapy in Pediatric Cancer

Turkey (Türkiye)30 participantsStarted 2026-05-16

Plain-language summary

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.

Who can participate

Age range

6 Years – 14 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * 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. * Access to a digital device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) equipped with a camera, audio capability, and a stable internet connection. * Parent/guardian able to read and write in Turkish. * Written informed consent from the parent/guardian and assent from the child (as appropriate for age). Exclusion Criteria: * 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.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Cancer Module

Timeframe: Change from baseline to the end of the 8-week intervention period

Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition - Short Form (BOT-2 SF)

Timeframe: Change from baseline to the end of the 8-week intervention period

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07596745

SponsorAkdeniz University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-06-16

Contact for this trial

Ozgun Kaya Kara, Assoc. Prof

+90 0242 310 66 13 ozgunkara@akdeniz.edu.tr

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Pediatric Cancer trials