Every year in the United States, approximately 1.5 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed in people of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. While early treatment is focused on curing the disease, physical therapy can help facilitate optimal recovery. At Fyzical PT Center in Plantation, Florida, physical therapist Dr. Emily Rade offers individualized oncology rehabilitation programs designed to help you alleviate pain, reduce stress and fatigue, and build strength and endurance. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
Cancer, or the abnormal growth of cells that results in the destruction of normal, healthy cells, can develop in any part of the body, including your organs, bones, and muscles. It can also spread from its point of origin to other parts.
Cancer is incredibly common, affecting nearly two in five people at some point in their lives. The seven most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer in the United States are:
As advances in oncological medicine continue to progress, more people are surviving cancer than ever before.
Conventional cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and gene therapy, can cause a wide range of side effects and physical problems that can last long after the final treatment has ended. Some of the most reported side effects include:
Although cancer treatment can be grueling and its side effects limiting, physical therapy is an ideal way to address common cancer-related impairments. At Fyzical PT Center, Dr. Rade works with you to develop a therapeutic exercise program designed to address your specific needs. The goal is to improve your well-being in three key ways:
If cancer or cancer treatment has left you in pain, Dr. Rade can apply hands-on techniques such as massage to alleviate any aches, burning sensations, numbness, tingling, or cramping you feel. She can also teach you gentle exercises and stretches to help reduce or eliminate your need for pain medication.
If cancer has made your muscles weak, Dr. Rade can give you targeted exercises to safely and progressively restore your strength without injury. If your muscles are tight and your joints are stiff, she can also gently stretch your body and teach you stretches you can perform to increase your flexibility. Improved strength and flexibility are key to restoring normal range of motion and movement patterns.
Exercises designed to reestablish coordination and balance can help you prevent falls and get through your daily activities with greater ease and less stress.
As a certified lymphatic specialist, Dr. Rade can also help you reduce, control, or prevent lymphedema, or uncomfortable swelling in your arms and legs. If you have a surgical incision, she can assist with dressing changes and provide gentle massage treatments to help prevent tightness and significant scarring.
To find out how physical therapy can improve your cancer journey, call Fyzical PT Center or schedule an appointment online today.
