Efficacy of Selected Exercise Program on Distal End Femoral Sarcoma Patients Undergoing Knee Modular Endoprosthesis: RCT

Osteosarcomas (OS) are the most common primary bone tumor and third most common cancer among children and adolescents after lymphomas and brain cancers (Wang et al., 2018; Luetke et al., 2014).

It is a primary malignant bone tumor with a worldwide incidence of 3.4 per million people per year (Mirabello et al., 2009). They are characterized by the production of osteoid, or immature bone, by malignant mesenchymal cells (Wang et al., 2018; (Luetke et al., 2014).

Patients displayed some persisting physical difficulties including incapability to perform active range of motion (ROM), decreased muscle strength, altered gait and sit-to-stand patterns, yet they maintained high levels of emotional acceptance and coping. A surprising but important finding was the persisting hip weakness in both operated and non-operated limbs, which extends up to 42 months after resection around the knee. This indicates that continued rehabilitation programs emphasizing hip strengthening should be considered for these patients, even years after surgery (Beebe et al., 2009). Furthermore, ROM exercises, strengthening exercises and balance exercises improve overall Quality of life (QOL) for these patients (Marchese et al., 2006).