Sport and exercise for polyneuropathy - this is the name of the recently published brochure aimed at children with cancer and their parents The 48-page exercise booklet was created as a joint sisterly production: Franziska Olivier (right), sports therapist in the Oncological Sports and Exercise Therapy working group at the NCT Heidelberg, conceived and created the attractive brochure together with her sister Charlotte Quirmbach, then a student of Communication and Media Management and responsible for the design
The impetus came from the fact that although information for adults with polyneuropathy had previously been available, there was no material specifically aimed at children and young people The new brochure was born from this idea Charlotte Quirmbach also compared communication with adults and children suffering from cancer in her bachelor's thesis
Background: Patients can develop polyneuropathy as a side effect of chemotherapy This is a disease of the peripheral, i.e. external, nervous system that causes hands and feet to feel numb or tingle In addition, those affected often have limited motor skills
Joachim Wiskemann (left), head of the Oncological Sports and Exercise Therapy working group at the NCT Heidelberg, says: "Regular exercise and sport, adapted to the patient's capabilities, are generally suitable for coping better with cancer and can also help if polyneuropathy occurs as a side effect of drug treatment."
This is where the new brochure comes in, showing many specific movement exercises in child-friendly texts and pictures The new brochure is also intended as a guide to give children the opportunity to pursue their natural urge to move during and after cancer treatment The authors want to use the exercise instructions to show children how they can remain active
You can download the new brochure here.
If you would like a printed brochure, please send an e-mail to onkoaktiv@nct-heidelberg.de