Gait Patterns in Children With Cancer and Vincristine Neuropathy.

Objective: Children treated with vincristine often develop chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), but effects of CIPN on gait have not been reported.

Methods: Gait variables of 52 children/adolescents treated for non-central nervous system cancers with CIPN were compared with an age- and sex-matched control group. Gait data were collected via GaitRite walkway before and after completing a 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Ankle range-of-motion (ROM) measures, balance, and strength tests were also completed.

Results: Participants with CIPN had decreased velocity and step length. Ankle ROM and balance explained variability in step length. Both groups increased self-selected velocity after the 6MWT, but participants with cancer walked with slower velocity, shorter step length, and decreased cadence. Strength, neuropathy, and self-selected velocity measured before the 6MWT explained variability in 6MWT scores.

Conclusions: Ankle ROM and balance are important factors when treating step length deficits, whereas strength is also an important consideration for walking capacity.