Physiotherapy in Cancer Patients
PHYSIOTHERAPY
IN CANCER PATIENTS
Cancer
patients can have many problems including fatigue, muscleweakness, pulmonary
dysfunction and pain. Patients with cancer tend to have decline in overall
heath and activity of daily living. Their quality of life is also affected. A
person suffering from cancer tries many different things to keep himself fit
but ultimately it gives him a feeling of being exhausted. While, physiotherapy
can help to maintain the standard of living by slowing down the progression of
the disease.
You
may never associate physiotherapy with cancer treatment. But it plays an
important role in repairing damage, reducing pain and stiffness and improving
the quality of life.Physiotherapy can help with all type of cancer and at all
stage of disease.
How physiotherapy helps?
Exercises
like aerobics exercises, pulmonary
exercises, cardiovascular endurance training and strengthening exercises
helps to regain the strength of muscles. It also helps to regains the energy
loss due to reduction in weight. Physiotherapy helps in overcoming the mental
physical and social limitations of the patients.
Cancer
can cause lots of physical pain for example; breast cancer can cause pain
around thorax and abdomen.Also, sometimes restrictions of movements can leads
to frozen shoulder. A physical therapy
can help in strengthening muscle of abdomen and thorax. It can also reduce the
respiratory discomfort through this.
What are the exercises that cancer
patients can do?
Physiotherapy
for cancer patients can make you fit and stronger and thinner like anyone who does
exercise. Exercise can also improve mood, boost self-confidence and reduce
fatigue.
The
following types of exercises can help with cancer patients:
·
Stretching exercise: it is important to keep
to moving to maintain mobility.
·
Aerobic exercises: such as walking,
swimming, jogging helps you to reduce weight.
·
Resistance training: many patients lose
muscle but gain fat. For those, this can be especially helpful.
How much exercise a cancer patient
should do?
-It is highly recommended to do 30-40
min. of exercise for atleast 5 days a week. If you have not been active,
start slowly, but start something.
“Whatever you do, don’t get
discouraged. Doing something is far better than nothing”.No need to be worried, Antarnaad
is here to guide you in all aspects through teleconsultation. Antarnaad is a
growing network of physiotherapists, provide best exercises programs according
to the individual patient. Patients who
come to us, we help through various techniques
such as mobilization, manipulation, taping, dry needling and modalities. The
physiotherapist who are experienced in providing physiotherapy for cancer patients are:
