Bone Cancer Treatments – Oncology Rehabilitation

Oncology Rehabilitation for Bone Cancer 

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we offer oncology rehabilitation services to promote a physical fitness regimen for you, consisting of cardiovascular, flexibility and strength training. Together, these activities are designed to help reduce stress, prevent fatigue, and improve your overall quality of life during bone cancer treatment.

The oncology rehabilitation services team at CTCA consists of physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), speech and language therapists, and massage therapists. Our team strives to educate you about the physical and psychological benefits of physical fitness during bone cancer treatment.

Therapy highlights include:

Physical Evaluation

Before therapy begins, the oncology rehabilitation team will conduct a thorough physical evaluation for you. Part of this initial evaluation consists of a functional assessment that measures your ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs).

Physical Therapy / Exercise Program

Exercise—even minimal physical exertion—increases heart rate and muscle flexion, while boosting your body’s tolerance to conventional bone cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Daily participation in individualized exercise programs can help you gain a sense of physical control over your condition, and provide a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety.

At CTCA, we strive to help bone cancer patients to become more physically capable, active and strong. Our rehabilitation therapy team will help you develop a customized physical therapy/exercise program that works for you, consisting of range-of-motion training and other light activities, like resistance training.

Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) – The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion helps therapists determine the intensity of exercise you can tolerate. The scale ranges from 6 (no exertion at all) to 20 (maximal exertion). Since the condition of each person is unique, the Borg system measures “exercise” as any activity that increases heart rate. Most people achieve 65 to 75 percent of their maximum heart rate during exercise.

Flexibility Program – Stretching is a beneficial activity that may help relieve joint stiffness and pain, while at the same time improving your overall mobility and range-of-motion. The benefits of stretching include:

• Enhancement of performance in everyday activities
• Improvement of mobility and independence
• Improvement and maintenance of posture and muscle balance
• Injury prevention
• Promotion of physical and mental relaxation

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists at CTCA deliver quality of life programs. By studying you as you interact with your day-to-day surroundings, occupational therapists assess physical mobility and will teach you how to address, and adapt to, any physical limitations that result from bone cancer treatment. Quality of life programs include help with showering, dressing, eating, and toileting.

Speech and Language Pathology

Speech and language pathologists fill a dual role in the Oncology Rehabilitation Department at CTCA. They teach speech therapy and troubleshoot any swallowing problems that may limit your ability to consume food. An improper swallowing mechanism, if left untreated, can create a condition known as aspiration (when food falls into the lung). CTCA speech and language pathologists will work with the nutrition team and food services to thicken or puree food to the consistency you require.

Manual Therapy

Massage therapy provides one means of manual muscle therapy. If you would like to incorporate massage therapy into your bone cancer treatment, you will first obtain a referral from either your physical or occupational therapist. Some forms of manual therapies we provide include reflexology, lymphedema massage, and myofascial release.

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