Physical Activity in Osteosarcoma Patients During and Post Therapy: A Single Site Prospective Observational Study.

Average daily step counts across all treatment stages were substantially below recommended values for physical activity.

• The average steps per day across all treatment stages including post treatment was 3184 ± SD 2552.74
• Range was 0–27,828 steps on treatment days
• Average steps on off treatment days was 4884 ± 2447.30, range 0–22,500 steps
• All patients except one were below recommended values for daily step counts until after therapy was complete

Twenty-six osteosarcoma patients provided valid wearable activity tracker data across multiple treatment stages.

• Valid data was defined as 3 or more days with more than 10 hours of continuous heart rate data
• Inclusion criteria allowed for any age, gender, or stage of treatment including after treatment completion
• Treatment stages represented included neoadjuvant, adjuvant, relapse, and off therapy periods
• Wearable activity trackers were used to evaluate physical activity patterns

Physical activity patterns varied widely between individual osteosarcoma patients throughout the treatment continuum.

• Step count ranges spanned from 0 to 27,828 steps on treatment days
• Step count ranges spanned from 0 to 22,500 steps on off treatment days
• The standard deviation of daily steps was 2552.74 on treatment days and 2447.30 on off treatment days, indicating high variability
• Values for specific treatment periods (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, relapse, off therapy) were each reported separately

Osteosarcoma patients showed higher average daily step counts on off-treatment days compared to treatment days.

• Average steps on treatment days was 3184 ± 2552.74
• Average steps on off-treatment days was 4884 ± 2447.30
• This difference suggests antineoplastic therapy administration days are associated with lower physical activity
• The authors suggest tailoring exercise programs to encourage activity on treatment days while scheduling more intensive exercise well after antineoplastic therapy

Long-term impairments in mobility and function after osteosarcoma treatment are common and lead to decreased quality of life.

• Osteosarcoma is described as the most common primary bone tumor in childhood and adolescence
• Many patients face long-term impairments in their mobility and function after treatment
• Exercise has been shown to improve functional recovery and quality of life in patients with cancer
• Data specific to children with osteosarcoma on exercise and physical activity were described as sparse