Despite their young age, limited training history, and lack of running tradition compared with other East African endurance athletes (e.g., Kenyans and Ethiopians), male endurance runners from Eritrea have recently attained important running successes. The purposes of our study were (i) to document the main physical and physiological characteristics of elite black Eritrean distance runners (n = 7; age: 22 ± 3 years) and (ii) to compare them with those of their elite white Spanish counterparts. For this second purpose we selected a control group of elite Spanish runners (n = 9; 24 ± 2 years), owing to the traditionally high success of Spanish athletes in long-distance running compared with other white runners, especially in cross-country competitions. The subjects’ main anthropometric characteristics were determined, together with their maximum oxygen uptake (VO_{2 max}) and VO₂(mL·kg^–1·min^–1), blood lactate, and ammonia concentrations while running at 17, 19, or 21 km·h^–1. The body mass index (18.9 ± 1.5 kg·m^–2) and maximal calf circumference (30.9 ± 1.5 cm) was lower in Eritreans than in Spaniards (20.5 ± 1.7 kg·m^–2and 33.9 ± 2.0 cm, respectively) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) and their lower leg (shank) length was longer (44.1 ± 3.0 cm vs. 40.6 ± 2.7 cm, respectively) (p < 0.05). VO_{2 max}did not differ significantly between Eritreans and Spaniards (73.8 ± 5.6 mL·kg^–1·min^–1vs. 77.8 ± 5.7 mL·kg^–1·min^–1, respectively), whereas the VO₂cost of running was lower (p < 0.01) in the former (e.g., 65.9 ± 6.8 mL·kg^–1·min^–1vs. 74.8 ± 5.0 mL·kg^–1·min^–1when running at 21 km·h^–1). Our data suggest that the excellent running economy of Eritreans is associated, at least partly, with anthropometric variables. Comparison of their submaximal running cost with other published data suggests that superior running economy, rather than enhanced aerobic capacity, may be the common denominator in the success of black endurance runners of East African origin.

The purpose was to investigate the effect of a 16-wk intrahospital supervised conditioning program including both resistance and aerobic training and a 20-wk detraining period on measures of aerobic fitness, muscular strength, functional mobility, ankle range of motion, and quality of life (QOL) in children receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Seven children (four boys, three girls; age: 5.1 ± 1.2 yr, body mass: 24.0 ± 5.8 kg, height: 114.6 ± 7.7 cm) in the maintenance phase of treatment against ALL performed three sessions per week for 16 wk of resistance (one set of 8-15 repetitions of 11 exercises) and aerobic training (30 min at > 70% HRmax) followed by 20 wk of detraining where no structured exercise program was performed. Before training, after training, and after detraining, a treadmill test determining V˙O2peak and ventilator threshold (VT), muscular strength (6RM), functional mobility (timed up and down stairs test, time up and go 3-m and 10-m tests), passive and dynamic ankle range of motion, and self-reported quality of living were determined. After training, significant increases in V˙O2peak, VT, upper- and lower-body muscular strength, and all measures of functional mobility were shown (P < 0.05). Muscular strength was well maintained (significantly greater than before training and no significant decrease from after training) during detraining, whereas V˙O2peak, VT, and functional mobility (not significantly different from before training but no significant decrease from after training) were only partially retained. Young children in the maintenance phase of treatment against ALL can safely perform both aerobic and resistance training. Training results in significant increases in measures of aerobic fitness, strength, and functional mobility. During detraining, strength and functional mobility are well maintained, whereas V˙O2peak and VT are partially maintained.

The purpose of this study was to determine if an eight-week intrahospital supervised, conditioning program improves functional capacity and quality of life (QOL) in children (4 boys, 4 girls) (mean [SD] age: 10.9 [2.8] years [range: 8 - 16]) who have undergone bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for leukemia treatment within the last 12 months. A group of 8 age and gender-matched healthy children served as controls. The experimental group performed 3 weekly sessions of resistance and aerobic training inside an intra-hospital gymnasium. A significant combined effect of group and time (p < 0.05) was observed for muscle functional capacity (Timed Up and Down Stairs [TUDS] test) and peak oxygen uptake (V·O_2peak), i.e., with BMT children showing greater improvements than controls (V·O_2peak at pre- and post-training of 25.9 (8.2) and 31.1 (7.6) mL/kg/min in diseased children). Muscle strength (6 RM test for bench and leg press and seated row) also improved after training (p < 0.05) in the BMT group. Concerning QOL, a significant combined effect of group and time (p < 0.05) was also observed for children's self-report of comfort and resilience and for parents' report of their children's satisfaction and achievement. In summary, children who have received BMT experience physical and overall health benefits after a relatively short-term (8 weeks) supervised exercise training program.

The purpose of this controlled trial was to assess the effect of an approximately 3-wk intrahospital exercise intervention performed during inpatient hospitalization for pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) on (i) immune cell recovery and (ii) body composition. Immune (i.e., blood counts of leukocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, and lymphocyte subpopulations) and anthropometric variables (i.e., body mass, body mass index, and estimated fat-free mass) were measured before and after (+15 and 30 d) HSCT. Seven children (5 boys and 2 girls; age (mean +/- SD) = 8 +/- 4 yr) with high-risk cancer performed an individualized training program (aerobic + resistance exercises) in their isolated hospital rooms. We also assessed a control group (n = 13; 9 boys and 4 girls; age = 7 +/- 3 yr) with similar medical conditions and following the same transplant protocol. In both groups, the dendritic cell count decreased from pre-HSCT to +15 d post-HSCT and thereafter (up to +30 d) remained stabile; however, the posttransplant decrease was more abrupt in the control group than that in the intervention group (-87% vs -63%, respectively, from pre-HSCT to +15 d). The rest of the immune cell parameters measured showed a similar response from pre-HSCT to post-HSCT in both groups. We found a significant effect of the interaction group x time for all anthropometric variables (weight, body mass index, body fat, and fat-free mass), indicating an increase over the hospitalization period only in the intervention group, for example, body mass increased from 32.9 +/- 18.7 kg pre-HSCT to 35.4 +/- 18.6 kg at +30 d in the intervention group versus a decrease from 30.2 +/- 16.6 to 29.3 +/- 6.3 kg in the control group. Our findings support the feasibility of exercise training interventions during hospitalization, including immunocompromised children.

The purpose of this pilot study was to measure physical activity (PA) levels in children undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and to compare the results with those from age-matched healthy children. We used the MTI Actigraph accelerometer to determine PA (during a 1 week period) in children (n = 7; age = 4–7 y) undergoing maintenance treatment for ALL and in age-matched controls (n = 7). The number of children accumulating at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for 5 or more days of the week was 3 for the control group, whereas no children with ALL met this criterion. Significantly lower levels of total weekly time of MVPA were seen in children being treated for ALL (328 ± 107 min) than in controls (506 ± 175 min) (p < 0.05). When weekday data was analyzed, the ALL patients also had significantly lower mean daily times of MVPA (49 ± 23 min vs. 79 ± 25 min). It is thus important that young ALL sufferers are encouraged to participate in appropriate sports, games, and physical activities both in the family and school environments that will prime them with positive attitudes to PA during the critical early years of life.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the functional capacity and quality of life of children receiving treatment against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is decreased compared to healthy age and gender-matched children. Functional capacity was assessed with a number of measurements as the peak oxygen uptake (V·O_2peak) and ventilatory threshold determined during a ramp treadmill test, functional mobility (Timed Up and Down Stairs test [TUDS]) and ankle dorsiflexion passive and active range of motion (passive and active DF‐ROM, respectively). Quality of life (QOL) was determined with the Spanish version of the Child Report Form of the Child Health and Illness Profile-Child Edition (CHIP‐CE/CRF). Fifteen children (9 boys, 6 girls; mean [SD] age: 6.8 ± 3.1 years) receiving maintenance therapy against ALL were studied and fifteen, nonathletic healthy children (9 boys, 6 girls; 6.9 ± 3.3 years) were selected as controls. The mean values of V·O_2peak and active DF‐ROM were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in patients (25.3 ± 6.5 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1 vs. 31.9 ± 6.8 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1 in controls and 19.6 ± 8.0° vs. 24.1 ± 5.0°, respectively). Children's self report of satisfaction (with self and health) (p < 0.05), comfort (concerning emotional and physical symptoms and limitations) (p < 0.01) and resilience (positive activities that promote health) (p < 0.01) were significantly decreased in patients with ALL. In summary, children receiving treatment against ALL have overall lower functional capacity and QOL than healthy children. However, their physical condition and health status are sufficiently high to allow them to participate in physical activities and supervised exercise programs.