Patient using weight machine in physical therapy - rehab services

Rehabilitation Services

Physical therapy Occupational therapy Lymphedema Pelvic floor PT Pulmonary rehab

Physical therapy (PT)

Physical therapists at Roswell work in both inpatient and outpatient settings and are an important part of your cancer rehabilitation team. We work with patients to improve mobility, reduce weakness, and improve quality of life. Physical therapists perform functional training with patients and prescribe exercises that can address pain, range of motion, balance, endurance and much more.

PT services include:

  • Pre-habilitation therapy to prepare your body for upcoming surgery or transplant, and speed recovery
  • Inpatient therapy to address mobility and ensure a safe discharge
  • Outpatient physical therapy during active treatment or following treatment
  • Pelvic floor rehab
  • Vestibular rehab
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Pediatric rehabilitation
  • Survivorship rehabilitation for when you finish treatment 

Physical therapy can help:

  • Rebuild your muscle strength to correct weakness
  • improve balance related to neuropathy and /or from cancer affecting the brain or spinal cord
  • improve your range of motion and reduce soft tissue restrictions
  • improve your ability to walk
  • reduce pain
  • recover endurance
  • address vestibular problems
  • reduce fatigue and depression

Meet the team

Occupational therapy (OT)

Cancer and its treatment can cause interruptions in daily routines, affecting how individuals perform their self-care, work, leisure, or social activities. The role of occupational therapy in oncology is to facilitate and enable an individual to achieve maximum functional performance, both physically and psychologically, in everyday living skills.

Inpatient and outpatient services provided throughout the age continuum offered by OT include:

  • Management and adaptations to activities of daily living (ADL’s)
  • Functional mobility (motor skills, strength, balance) as it relates to ADL’s
  • Cognitive strategies to address memory, concentration, and higher-level cognitive skill deficits
  • Energy conservation and fatigue management
  • Upper extremity strength, range of motion rehabilitation
  • Fine and gross motor coordination
  • Upper extremity thermoplastic splinting

Meet the team

Lymphedema

Lymphedema occurs when lymph fluid builds up, causing swelling in a part of the body. The condition may be caused by surgery that removes several lymph nodes, or radiation therapy that may damage lymph nodes, causing an interruption to the flow of lymph fluid. Lymphedema can be treated, but not reversed.

Roswell Park's Lymphedema Care provides specialized treatment to reduce swelling and discomfort, and prevent infection. Treatment sessions may include manual lymphatic drainage, therapeutic bandaging, proper exercises, skincare instruction regarding specific lotions and soaps, and self-care tips to reduce lymphedema going forward.

Meet the team

Pelvic floor physical therapy

Pelvic floor therapy is a private, one-on-one physical therapy session that focuses on rehabilitation of the muscles in your pelvis. This therapy will help you lengthen any tight or painful muscles, strengthen weaker muscles, and learn how to activate your pelvic floor to regain control over your bowel and bladder in your daily life. Some common conditions treated with pelvic floor PT include frequent and urgent urination or bowel movements, pelvic organ prolapse (descending/drooping of the pelvic organs), and pelvic and genital pain.

Treatment approaches for people of all genders include behavioral strategies, manual therapies, exercise and education.

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Roswell Park's pulmonary therapist provides a rehabilitation program to help people with lung disease live and breathe better — regardless of what type of cancer a patient is undergoing treatment for. Patients are monitored and taught to exercise safely by paying attention to their breathing and oxygen levels, as well as learning respiratory muscle training and modified exercise programs to improve breathlessness, strength, and endurance.