Laughter and fun yoga to ease chemotherapy pain in children

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group trial comparing a six-day home-based program of laughter activities and age-appropriate gentle yoga plus usual care to usual care alone for children with ALL. Participants are enrolled at routine chemotherapy visits, randomized 1:1, and parents or caregivers supervise daily sessions at home. The intervention combines gentle movement, breathing exercises, laughter-based activities, and guided play and is intended to complement standard medical care. Outcome data, including brief daily pain and wellbeing assessments, are collected during the intervention period to compare groups.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Children aged 2-10 years.
* Medically diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and currently receiving chemotherapy that includes dexamethasone pulses during the maintenance phase.
* Clinically stable and able to participate in gentle, low-intensity yoga movements as determined by the treating physician.
* At least one parent or legal guardian willing and able to supervise and participate in the home-based intervention sessions.
* Written informed consent from parent/legal guardian, with age-appropriate assent from the child.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Recent major surgery (within the past 2 weeks) that may limit safe participation in gentle activity.
* Severe uncontrolled medical conditions (unstable vital signs, decompensated cardiac or respiratory disease, uncontrolled epilepsy) that may place the child at risk during light movement or laughter.
* Severe visual, hearing, or cognitive impairment preventing engagement with video-based instructions and exercises.
* Physical limitations or musculoskeletal injuries that prevent participation in the intervention.
* Any other condition that, in the judgment of the treating physician, would interfere with safe participation or adherence.
* Currently enrolled in another interventional clinical trial for pain management.

Where it's running

• Hammoud Hospital University Medical Center
  Sidon, Lebanon Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Bahaa W Bou Dargham, MD — Beirut Arab University and Hammoud Hospital University Medical Center
• Study coordinator: Bahaa W Bou Dargham, MD
• Email: b.dargham@bau.edu.lb
• Phone: +9613537986

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.