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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2026 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Pediatr Phys Ther. 2024 Dec 24;37(1):57–63. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000001156

Table 1 –

Scoping Review Results Categorized by Participants and Gait Analysis.

Author
(year)
Study
Type
Participant Characteristics* Timing of Gait Analysis Type of Gait Analysis Primary Results
Gilchrist et al. (2016) 20 Prospective Observation N = 52
Sex: 30 females; 22 males
Age: 11.3 ± 4.5 years
Control: 52 (11.3 ± 4.5 years)

Cancer Types: ALL (44%), Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (35%), non-CNS solid tumor (21%)

Chemotherapy: Vincristine (all patients, mean cumulative dose of 17.5 ± 8.8 mg/m2), methotrexate (30 patients, mean cumulative dose of 132.3 mg), vinblastine (4 patients, mean cumulative dose of 18.8 mg/m2)
ALL patients tested: end of delayed intensification stage (~ 6 months into treatment)

Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma or other solid tumors tested: end of treatment (~3-6 months into treatment)

Average time in treatment: 6.1 ± 2.4 months

Other: Each patient’s gait was tested before and after a 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
Instrumented Gait Analysis:
(GaitRite electronic walkway)
  • velocity (cm/s)

  • cadence (steps/min)

  • step length (cm)

  • base of support (cm)

  • time in double support (percent of the cycle)

  • percent of time each portion of the foot is in contact with the pressure mat

  • Slower walking velocity in oncology participant compared to healthy children due to a decreased step length and wider base of support

  • Tightness in ankle dorsiflexion helps explain variances

Beulertz et al. (2016) 21 Cross-sectional N = 13
Sex: 8 females; 5 males
Age: 11.14 ± 3.53 years
Control: 13 (11.29 ± 3.42 years)

Cancer Types: ALL (30.8%), Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (15.4%), CNS tumor (23.1%), non-CNS solid tumor (30.8%)

Chemotherapy: 10 of out 11 participants that utilized chemotherapy agents had received vincristine during medical treatment (doses not specified)
After completion of chemotherapy

Mean time since cessation of medical
Treatment = 1.37 ± 1.07 years

Mean age at diagnosis 9.30 ± 4.20 years
Instrumented Gait Analysis: Microgate Optogait 2D
Gait Analysis System:
  • length parameters in centimeters (step length, stride length, step width)

  • gait cycle parameters in percentage (stance phase, swing phase, single-limb support, double-limb support, loading response, and pre swing phase)

  • time parameters in seconds (step time and gait cycle), and cadence (steps per min) and walking speed in meters per second.

  • Decreased dorsiflexion range of motion in oncology sample compared to healthy children in both knee flexed and extended positions

  • Significant differences in stance, swing, and preswing phase

Wright et al. (2017) 22 Cross-sectional N = 17
Sex: 10 females; 7 males
Age: 11.2 ± 5.7 years
Control: 10 (12.4 ± 5.5 years)

Cancer Types: ALL

Chemotherapy: Vincristine (doses 1.5 mg/m2 weekly during induction and 2.0 mg/m2 every three weeks during consolidation and maintenance therapy)
7 subjects were tested during continuation treatment

10 subjects were tested after completion of treatment

Average time off treatment: 35.7 ± 28.5 months
Instrumented:
3-DMA: VICON 8 MX-40 camera system (Vicon Motion Systems Inc.)

Gait: Plug-in-Gait 16 marker set
(2.0.1), Polygon software (Version 3.1) and Plug-in-Gait 16 marker set
(2.0.1), Polygon software (Version 3.1), and three 1000 Hz force platforms
Advanced
Mechanical Technology Inc.
Video Analysis: 2 synchronized video cameras
Electromyography (EMG): surface, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles
  • significantly less dorsiflexion at initial contact

  • significantly shorter step lengths and slower velocities compared to the control group

ALL – acute lymphoblastic leukemia CNS – central nervous system

*

The demographic data in the table was reformatted to allow for easier comparisons including converting percentages to numeric values. None of the information was altered in a way as to change the data from the studies included.