RPCI provides a wealth of Physical Therapy services which can be accessed Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.  The Physical Therapy (PT) offices are located on the first floor of the hospital and can be contacted through 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724)

 

The Physical Therapy staff offers a number of different services, depending upon the type of cancer being treated, and a patient's own individual needs.  Working with the physician, the PT staff will work to maximize your physical abilities and comfort levels, to ensure the quickest, most effective recovery for you.  Services can be tailored to meet your individual requirements, but many are addressed in our current services, which are outlined below.

 

The Wellness Program

A program which helps to “bridge the gap” between being a patient and returning to usual (or new) activities.  Learn about the functional and social aspects of returning or resuming activities, energy conservation techniques, exercises and fatigue management among other things.  The program is currently directed by a Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist, but includes many disciplines.  

 

Pain Management

Learn about pain management through the use of different physical therapy modalities – heat, cold, electric stimulation, exercise, myofascial release techniques, etc. – in conjunction with the Pain Management Team/Task Force.  

 

Post Breast Surgery Rehabilitation

Patients who undergo breast surgery will meet with PT staff, who will provide them with an overview of the lymphedema prevention precautions to observe and the exercises they will perform after the removal of drains.  When patients return to clinic, they return to PT for more thorough instruction in exercises to restore shoulder mobility and function.

 

Lymphedema Treatment Services

Lymphedema is a chronic condition characterized by swelling of the arm or leg and usually occurs after surgery and/or radiation treatment to the lymph nodes.  The Lymphedema Treatment Service provides ongoing, comprehensive management of patients with lymphedema by a multispecialty team of physicians, surgeons and physical therapists.  

 

Post radical neck dissection 

Since a nerve and/or a muscle can be affected during this surgery, patients are taught exercises to minimize postural deformity and maximize function of the neck and shoulder.

 

Post lung surgery

After a thoracotomy, patients often need rehabilitation to improve mobility of their shoulder due to the incision and the chest tubes.  Additionally, patients can learn  conditioning/endurance programs to regain their functional mobility.  Some patients with compromised pulmonary function (after pneumonectomy) also will benefit from energy conservation techniques.

 

Neurological

There are numerous types of neurological involvement in cancer patients, including primary tumors of brain and spinal cord, metastatic tumors of the nervous system, and  peripheral nerve damage as a result of tumor, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Rehabilitation programs are tailored to the individual needs of the patient to maximize ability to function independently and return to their daily activities.

 

Orthopedic patients

Limb sparing surgeries have largely been used for primary extremity tumors instead of amputation.  However, the rehabilitation process is often extensive, with the patients having internal prostheses or grafts, and require a great deal of muscle re-education and gait and functional activity training.

 

Bone Marrow Transplant/Hi-Dose Chemotherapy

Patients receiving bone marrow transplants and those receiving hi-dose chemotherapy require physical therapy as in- and as outpatients to offset the many side effects of treatment.  These may include muscle and nerve damage, balance disorders, deconditioning, and cardiopulmonary compromise.

 

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation services includes evaluation and treatment for problems related to disturbance of the vestibular or balance system.  Problems treated include dizziness and/or nausea during or after movement, blurred vision and loss of ability to maintain one's balance when standing and walking.