Cancer Rehabilitation
When you have been changed by a serious illness or injury, rehabilitation can help restore your physical ability and improve your quality of life. Cancer rehabilitation helps a person with cancer obtain the best physical, social, psychological, and work-related functioning during and after cancer treatment. The goal of rehabilitation is to help a person regain control over many aspects of their lives and remain as independent and productive as possible. Rehabilitation can be valuable to anyone with cancer and those recovering from cancer treatment.
Where does Physical Therapy come in?
A physical therapist works with patients to help restore mobility and physical functioning, while preventing further disability. This service may be particularly important for people who have lost muscle tone because of prolonged bed rest, have trouble with balance, or need to use canes or other assistive devices after cancer treatment.
Physical Therapy aims to improve your quality of life and independence by improving your ability to be active and comfortable. Physical therapists can reduce your pain, improve your mobility (i.e., walking, going up stairs, getting in and out of bed), and restore your physical function/performance of everyday activities. They evaluate movement potential and help establish agreed upon goals. Depending on your condition, you may focus on flexibility, strength, endurance, coordination and/or balance.
What happens if I do not exercise or remain active during treatment?
There are several consequences of inactivity. Patients undergoing cancer treatments can suffer from fatigue, muscle wasting, joint stiffness and poor posture - all of which can lead to an inability to participate in activities of daily living potentially resulting in hopelessness and depression.
Exercise—even minimal physical exertion—increases heart rate and muscle flexibility. For people living with cancer, exercise may boost your body’s tolerance to cancer treatments, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Physical therapists can help you stay active during your cancer care. They deliver individualized exercise programs that combine range-of-motion training with other light activities, like resistance training. Physical therapists do everything in our power to treat cancer-related fatigue by helping you continue activity at the right level, and at the right time, so you still have energy to do the things you enjoy. The goal is to improve safety and enhance your self satisfaction with your physical abilities.
What specific problems does Physical Therapy address?
Physical Therapy helps cancer patients with the following problems and more:
• Cancer-Related Fatigue
• Steroid Myopathy
• Loss of Range of Motion
• Decreased Bone Density
• Musculoskeletal Pain
• Lymphedema
• Radiation Fibrosis
• Neuropathy
• Decreased Balance or Coordination
• Soft tissue restrictions related to surgical procedures and reconstructions
Scope of Practice
A physical therapy treatment plan is designed based on each individual’s diagnosis. Treatment plans typically include:
• Improving range of motion after surgery
• Generalized strengthening
• Core strengthening
• Lymphedema education
• Improving cardiovascular function
• Decreasing pain
Some of the benefits of physical therapy include:
• Decreased Fatigue
• Increased range of motion
• Weight loss
• Improved cardiovascular endurance
• Improved functional capacity
• Increased self esteem
• Increased energy
Our Program
The therapists at Friendship Heights Rehabilitation Center are well versed in treating patients with cancer struggling with a multitude of problems, ranging from mild to severe degrees of impairment. We encourage family involvement and communicate regularly with the physicians. Therapists take time to create individual treatment plans that are meaningful to the patient.
Mission
It is the mission of our Cancer Rehabilitation Program to provide cancer patients of Montgomery County and N.W. Washington with options for out-patient physical therapy services. Our Cancer Rehabilitation Program strives to utilize state of the art technology and evidence based practice. Treatment is individual and is designed to maximize functional outcomes. A Wellness Program is available including personal training for those who don’t feel comfortable returning to their gym and massage therapy for those patients who have some lingering soft tissue restrictions and stress management. We believe in empowering the patient to take control over their health through patient education and safe exercise.
If you or someone you love could benefit from our cancer rehabilitation program, please contact us right away. We are here to make this difficult time easier for you and your family.
Therese Rodda, P.T.
Friendship Heights Rehabilitation Center
5530 Wisconsin Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301 656-6922
trodda@fhrehab.com
10801 Lockwood Drive, Suite 280
Silver Spring, MD 20901
301 576-6474
Links:
http://fhrehab.com/index.html - Friendship Heights Rehabilitation Center - Maryland Physical Therapy - Metro DC area
http://fhrehab.com/ptServices.html - Physical Therapy Programs
http://fhrehab.com/wellnessServices.html - Wellness Services
Technorati Tags: Cancer rehabilitation, cancer treatment, oncology, treatment plans, lymphedema, neuropathy, balance, pain, fatigue, cardiovascular, core strengthening, physical therapy, maryland, metro DC, chevy chase, silver spring, friendship heights rehabilitation
