The long-lasting, often inpatient therapies reduce physical development and performance, with the possible consequence of a long-term or permanent reduction in quality of life and participation. Due to the lack of exercise, cardiopulmonary function, muscle strength and coordination skills do not develop in an age-appropriate manner.

The interdisciplinary collaboration between the Department of Sports Medicine and the Clinical Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at the MHH created and tested a sports medicine concept that motivates young patients to become physically active. Thanks to the financial support of the Verein für krebskranke Kinder Hannover e.V., a protected, child-friendly sports room is provided for the oncological children.

Sports medicine care is based on three complementary pillars.

The first pillar is the daily care of the children on the wards, either at the bedside, in the corridor or in the specially equipped sports room.

The second pillar is outpatient sports therapy, which takes place after inpatient treatment and is intended to enable the child to reintegrate into everyday life in an age-appropriate manner. At the start of and during outpatient therapy, the affected children are examined and assessed with regard to their physical abilities. This includes exercise therapy advice and support for integration into sports clubs. Extrapolated to a calendar year, around 1000 training sessions are carried out in the inpatient and outpatient areas.

The third pillar includes various projects in which the children can participate during and after outpatient therapy. Examples include targeted rowing training for the "Rowing against Cancer" rowing regatta, skiing in Pitztal, surfing on Sylt and climbing in the high ropes course.

Other areas of activity include sporting support for affected parents in parent training and networking in the "ActiveOncoKids" project.