Restorative Effects of Physical Exercise on Cortical Thickness, Brain Volume, and Neurological Recovery among Children with Brain Tumors: A Systematic Review

A bstract Background: With the passage of time, increasing evidence supports that plasticity of the brain triggered through exercise promotes both structural and functional recuperation after brain injuries. Enhancing physical function in children diagnosed with brain tumors (BTs) can be significantly facilitated through effective rehabilitation strategies. Objective: The objective of the review is to determine how physical exercise impacts cortical thickness, brain volume, and neurological recuperation in children diagnosed with BTs. Methods: A methodological exploration was carried out through databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, PEDro, and EMBASE. Research works employing physical exercises to evaluate its effectiveness on aspects be it cortical thickness, brain volume, and neurological recuperation in children with BTs were selected for examination. This review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023437059). Results: A total of 8 studies on 400 children with BTs were included for the present review. Trials analyzing the exercise regimens or programs designed for children with BTs were included. In addition, studies exhibited variations in nature and duration of interventions, alongside methodological limitations such as small participant numbers, unclear randomization methods, and the presence of single-blind study designs. The quality of all results extracted ranged from moderate to low. Conclusion: Treatment in BTs requires intensive therapies. Once cured, children survived BTs, often confronting brain damage that amplifies their susceptibility to enduring cognitive and neurocognitive impairments. To their rescue, physical exercise training emerges as a feasible, safe, and economical approach for aiding in recovery of brain following radiation treatment for childhood BTs. Participation in exercise has been correlated with increased cortical thickness in specific brain regions such as the right pre- and postcentral gyri.

Перевод пока недоступен