Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Growth and Development Disorders in Pediatrics

Background: Physical therapy is playing an important role in enhancing and promoting health related quality of life in children with thalassemia and sickle cell disease by decreasing the associated disease symptoms as pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue and enhancing the cardiopulmonary system, bone mineral density, ferritin and serum levels by using different physical therapy modalities as exercise training, Yoga, Massage therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS), spirometer and vibration therapy. Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of using physical therapy modalities in children with thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Subjects:This review included Children with thalassemia and sickle cell disease aged between 5 to 18 years, received different physical therapy modalities. Design: A search of electronic databases that included, PubMed, Physical therapy Evidence Database, Google scholar, Science Direct and Cochrane was searched since ever till December 2019 using the following keywords: {u2018}Physical therapy modalities{u2019}, {u2018}thalassemia{u2019}, {u2018}exercise training{u2019}, {u2018}sickle cell disease{u2019}, {u2018}breathing exercise{u2019}, {u2018}health related quality of life{u2019},{u2018}transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation{u2019} and {u2018}children{u2019}. Results: twelve articles that were retrieved met the inclusion criteria: meta-analysis was done for four studies and descriptive for the other eight. Conclusion: from clinical point of view using physical therapy modalities can promote quality of life in children suffering from thalassemia and sickle cell disease but further studies are needed to help the researchers and the patients

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