Physical Therapists Helping Cancer Patients

By La Plata Physical Therapy, Inc.

La Plata Physical Therapy, Inc.

. http://www.laplatapt.com/

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Physical Therapists Helping Cancer Patients

A patient that goes through a long and arduous cancer treatment and recovery process typically experiences some of the following side-effects decreased strength, areas of inflammation, fatigue, neuropathies, memory or concentration problems, pain, and incontinence problems. Physical therapy can be the best route of treatment to help patients with these and other conditions.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recognizes physical therapists as highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain, improve or restore mobility, and increase strength. In many cases, a physical therapist can help patients without the need for long-term use of prescription medications and their associated side-effects. Physical therapists can use treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability.

Cancer treatment and recovery can take a toll on patients, leaving them weak and unable to return to their previous daily and social activities. This is where physical therapist involvement can help to change someone's life. Through conservative management, in most cases, patients can return to their lives and be as independent as their specific situation permits.

Pain is a great limiting factor for many of these patients. Several techniques may be helpful to decrease pain, such as soft tissue mobilization, therapeutic massage, therapeutic stretching and strengthening, cognitive behavioral therapy, and therapeutic modalities. Although the benefits of therapeutic modalities have been controversial, in many cases they can help patients to decrease the pain they are experiencing. For this reason, it is important to understand the contraindications for each technique so that when a patient visits a physical therapist, they can provide information that will help keep them safe from possible complications.

Some of the most common therapeutic modalities include ice or heat pack applied to the painful area, muscular electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, and heat through laser application. Patients that are about to start a physical therapy program should provide all relevant information to their physical therapist to ensure the safe application of any particular modality.

The following list, though not all-inclusive, may be used as a guide for what relevant information a patient would be encouraged to inform to his physical therapist prior to a therapeutic modality treatment. These situations would be considered a contraindication and would be important to discuss in advance if you have experienced an episode of deep vein thrombosis; had any hemorrhagic conditions; if you are currently pregnant; if you have any impairments of cognition or communication; if you have experienced cardiac conditions or conditions where there are regenerating nerves; if your skin has suffered any damage, infections, or any local malignancy where the therapeutic modality would be applied; if you have had any tissues recently radiated; or if you have had any type of electronic devices implanted to the body.

Physical therapists assist cancer patients in many ways, and if one of these modalities is being considered, be sure your medical history is communicated and is up to date.