General Discussion - Help for a cancer patient

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Help for a cancer patient

Printed From: CyberPT - Your Online Physical Therapy Resource
Category: Patient Forum
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: Patients can post questions and experiences about physical therapy in general for discussion.
URL: http://www.cyberpt.com/ptforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=961
Printed Date: Nov 26 2024 at 11:19pm
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Topic: Help for a cancer patient

Posted By: Ask a PT
Subject: Help for a cancer patient
Date Posted: Mar 01 2012 at 9:59pm

Our user aksed: "I am a personal trainer who works with a woman whose husband is recovering from three stomach cancer surgeries and one chemo-radiation treatment. He's in considerable pain, and she asked if I knew of any exercises he might do to relieve it. His insurance won't cover pt. Because of the many slicings and dicings of his stomach, his spine is now crooked, one shoulder jutting forward, the other rolled back. This causes him significant discomfort in his hips, legs, you name it. Do you have any information that might help me help him? Many thanks in advance"

Ask a PT Response: "It is going to be very tough to help you without physically being able to examine your client's husband. If I were to have a patient similiar to the one you describe, I would first determine what problems the patient is experiencing ie. weakness, tightness, hypomobile joints, etc. Therefore, I would have the patient stretch what is tight, strengthen what is weak, etc. Incorporation of exercises in the pool could allow for incresae tolerance for the patient. Exercise prescription will progress from low level to high level as tolerated. Sorry, I couldn't have been of more help."