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Rehabilitation in Cancer Care: Empowering Recovery

Cancer treatment can be a challenging journey, but rehabilitation, including physiotherapy and occupational therapy, can play a crucial role in improving quality of life and aiding recovery.

Benefits of Physiotherapy for Cancer clients

  • Before, During, and After Treatment: Exercise is safe and beneficial throughout the cancer treatment process. It can reduce fatigue, improve physical function, and enhance quality of life. Physiotherapists play a key role in providing safe, individualised exercise prescriptions tailored to each client's needs.

  • Evidence-Based Guidelines: Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (such as 30 minutes of walking, three times a week) combined with strength training (twice a week) is recommended. Regular exercise, up to 150 minutes per week, may also reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and improve survival rates.

  • Quality of Life Improvements: Exercise has been shown to alleviate many side effects of cancer treatment, including fatigue, pain, and psychological distress. Patients often report better overall well-being and physical function when they maintain an active lifestyle.

Specialised Exercise Interventions

  • High-Impact Exercise: For improving bone health, high-impact and resistance exercises are beneficial, especially for patients at risk of osteoporosis due to hormone-sensitive cancers like breast and prostate cancer. Exercises such as bounding, skipping, and squat jumps can help maintain bone density.

  • High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): HIIT can be safely prescribed to cancer survivors, offering significant health benefits when tailored to individual needs. This type of exercise can stimulate immune cell pathways and improve cancer outcomes.

  • Managing Bone Metastases: Structured and supervised exercise can improve physical function and quality of life for patients with bone metastases. Physiotherapists ensure exercises are safe and effective, taking into account the location of bone metastases and other individual considerations.



Occupational therapy for cancer clients

  • Lymphoedema Management: Cancer-related lymphoedema, caused by damage to the lymphatic system during cancer treatment can be effectively managed. Neuro Junction Occupational Therapists implement Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) which is currently the gold standard for lymphoedema management and includes manual lymph drainage (MLD), compression therapy, skin and nail care, exercise, nutrition and education.

  • Equipment Prescription/Home Modifications: Occupational therapists assess any needs for adaptive equipment or modifications to your home to improve independence and quality of life

  • Fatigue, pain and sleep management: Occupational therapists look at the whole person and their daily life/goals and needs to help establish routines to assist with fatigue, pain and sleep cycles.

How neuro junction Can Help

Rehabilitation is not just about managing symptoms but empowering clients to reclaim their strength and quality of life. Our team of expert physiotherapists and occupational therapists are here to support you every step of the way.

  • Clinic and Home Visits: to provide treatment including personalised exercise programs and equipment prescription as required.

  • Multidisciplinary Approach: Working alongside oncologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals, our physiotherapists and occupational therapists help create a comprehensive care plan tailored to each person’s needs. This collaborative approach ensures that clients receive holistic care that addresses all aspects of their health.

For more information and personalized care contact us today!

Additional Resources

Jessica Nienhuis