Did you know that physical therapy can help before, during, and after oncology treatments? Treatments for cancer can affect the body and mind in many different ways. There can be strength loss, decreased tissue and joint mobility, fatigue, balance impairments, and impaired ability to process information.
Before starting treatment for cancer, as physical therapist, we can help give one strategies and exercises to use and perform to help reduce the effects of treatment. Depending on where the treatments will be targeted, we can specifically provide exercises for that body area that will help maintain one’s mobility, ROM, and strength. In doing this (what we call pre-hab) one can have better treatment outcomes and can reduce the effects of fatigue during and after treatment.
During oncology treatments we can provide one with appropriate durations and frequency of exercise to not overwhelm the body’s system but still be able to help maintain some fitness. In addition, we can work around treatment sites and surgical sites to ensure that tissue mobility is regained and wounds are healing properly.
Following treatments we can help one regain full range of motion/mobility if there has been a loss, improve tissue mobility in areas of radiation, regain strength, and help one regain their general physical fitness. Cancer survivors and those undergoing cancer treatments can have a better quality of life if they are able to move properly with less pain and fatigue and enjoy their loved one’s around them.
Also, nutrition plays an important role in the treatment process and healing process after treatment. Trying to eat gluten free or gluten reduced in addition to taking a probiotic and eating more Omega-3’s, antioxidants and fiber can reduce whole body inflammation that can occur from chemotherapy, increase energy level, and aid in digestion. There are also foods to avoid that are contributors to cancer and cancer becoming malignant. These foods to avoid are high fructose corn syrup, aspartame/artificial sweeteners, and trans-fats.
There is much more information on all stages of rehabilitation throughout your cancer treatment but this blog is a starting point to help one understand how to reduce the effects of treatment or help regain function following treatment.
