Physical therapy in palliative care: From symptom control to quality of life: A critical review

Abstract

Physiotherapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing movement potential, within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Physical therapists practice in a broad range of inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings such as hospice and palliative care centers where as part of a multidisciplinary team of care, they address the physical and functional dimensions of the patients’ suffering. Physiotherapy treatment methods like therapeutic exercise, electrical modalities, thermal modalities, actinotherapy, mechanical modalities, manual physical therapy and assistive devices are useful for a range of life-threatening and life-limiting conditions like cancer and cancer-associated conditions; HIV; neurodegenerative disorders like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis; respiratory disorders like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; and altered mental states. The professional armamentarium is still expanding with inclusion of other miscellaneous techniques which were also proven to be effective in improving quality of life in these patients. Considering the scope of physiotherapy in India, and in palliative care, professionals in a multidisciplinary palliative care team need to understand and mutually involve toward policy changes to successfully implement physical therapeutic palliative care delivery.

Observational Study on Patient's Satisfactions and Quality of Life (QoL) Among Cancer Patients Receiving Treatment with Palliative Care Intent in a Tertiary Hospital in Malaysia

“…The purpose of palliative care is to maximize quality of life of such patients from different aspects in particular physical, mental and spiritual (Kumar et al, 2008). The improvements in the quality life of cancer patients can be achieved via a range of services network to meet the needs of patients and the care giver.…”

Physiotherapy Treatment in the End of Life Care

“…Its primary aim consists in improving their overall quality of life. This is achieved, inter alia, through alleviating the most bothersome symptoms associated with cancer disease, and other ailments constraining patients' activities [1]. It is also vital to maintain feasible physical activity level and selfreliance in the patients within the limits demarcated by the specifics of the disease, while effectively helping them adapt to their emerging functional limitations.…”

The Perspectives on Including Palliative Care in the Indian Undergraduate Physiotherapy Curriculum

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