Rehabilitation
Cancer rehabilitation : Do physiotherapists have a role ?
Kanika Sabhani explains how physiotherapy can help cancer patients
Cancer is a leading cause of death and disability globally . One reason is that , as life expectancy increases , so does the risk of developing cancer . Advancements in technology , however , have drastically improved treatment options , resulting in higher survivorship rates . But with better survival outcomes , individuals are also faced with a unique set of impairments . Cancer rehabilitation is an emerging area of medicine that seeks to address these issues .
Physiotherapists are not often associated with cancer recovery , however , as exercise specialists they are uniquely suited to support the rehabilitation process . Physiotherapists not only aid in recovery but also enable individuals to maintain a good quality of life to minimise the risk of developing cancer .
At present , the Western medical approach to treating cancer includes an array of options involving surgery , radiation therapy , and chemotherapy . These are commonly accompanied by several debilitating side effects that can be targeted by physiotherapists . Appropriate physiotherapy interventions have been shown to reduce the length of inpatient stays , contributing to reduced personal and public healthcare costs . Some of the common grievances experienced by cancer survivors and their associated physiotherapy options include :
Exercise specialists are uniquely suited to support the rehabilitation process
46 ISSUE 5 | 2024 GlobalHealthAndTravel . com