The Role of Physiotherapy in Oncology Cancer-related fatigue Cancer-Related Fatigue (CRF) is recognised as one of the most common and distressing symptoms of cancer, affecting 70-100% of patients during and post anti-cancer treatments. CRF impacts on the functional ability of patients and therefore is a primary concern to physiotherapists. Currently exercise has the strongest evidence base for treating CRF and decreased activity levels are a contributing factor of this symptom. Therefore, physiotherapists have a key role in screening patients for fatigue, assessing current activity levels and providing exercise advice and initiating exercise programmes with patients. Exercise prescriptions are designed based on patients’ unique medical and demographic characteristics and associated anticancer treatments and side effects. Excercise It is important for cancer patients and survivors to maintain a basic fitness level both during and after their cancer treatment(s). The message delivered to patients has often been ‘rest is best’ but we now know that this is not helpful. Many studies have demonstrated the physical and psychological benefits of well designed exercise programmes. It is clear that exercise can help combat the many side-effects of cancer treatments and help patients improve their quality of life and functioning. Evidence also exists regarding the benefits of exercise in patients with non-malignant disease such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Physiotherapists, as experts in human movement, have an important role in advising patients on suitable exercise programmes and monitoring their progress at all stages in the ‘patient pathway’. The key principles of exercise prescription are: individualised and based on comprehensive assessment focusing on maintenance during treatment and on improvement post-treatment concentrating on all aspects of fitness and ‘whole-body’ workouts based on moderate intensity levels working towards goals identified by the patient to include regular re-assessment and review
Posted on: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 14:24:13 +0000
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