Our team of experts works with patients to develop a plan of care that fits their individual needs and goals. This approach ensures that our patients receive individualized care, leading to the best possible outcomes throughout their journey.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy (PT) is a skilled rehabilitation service that uses customized approaches to address the functional limitations of an individual. Throughout your cancer treatments, you may experience functional limitations that decrease your quality of life. These may include:
- Impaired mobility
- Decreased stamina
- Fatigue
- Chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy
- Joint pain
- Decreased joint mobility
- Impaired balance
- Swelling/lymphedema
The length of physical therapy depends on the needs and goals of each patient. Some may need a single visit to learn about their condition and to develop a home-exercise program, while others may need physical therapy that extends over weeks or months. Physical therapy is beneficial in any phase of cancer treatment and is tailored to each patient.
All of our physical therapists have additional training in lymphedema treatment, and several are certified lymphedema therapists with the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA).
Our state-of-the-art clinic spaces have beautiful rehabilitation gyms equipped with many types of exercise equipment to address the needs of our patients.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy (OT) is a skilled rehabilitation service that helps people participate in the things they want and need to do to complete their daily activities.
Side effects from cancer or its treatment may prevent you from performing the activities (occupations) that are important to you. These difficulties may occur at any point during your cancer journey. You may experience changes in the following, which may result in difficulty doing things like getting dressed and preparing meals:
- Movement ability
- Muscle strength
- Sensation
- Energy
- Pain or posture
- Memory and attention
Occupational therapy can help you:
- Manage fatigue and maintain your energy to complete daily activities
- Focus on activities and exercises that will improve your range of motion and strength needed for daily activities
- Learn techniques that will decrease your pain and improve stress management
- Find ways to adjust to memory and/or attention changes so they do not interfere with your daily activities
Our goal at the OSUCCC – James is to improve your quality of life and general well-being by helping you return to doing the things you want and need to do.
Physical Medicine and Pain Intervention Specialists
As a cancer survivor, you may face health issues during and after cancer treatment that can affect your quality of life. You may find it useful to see a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) doctor to help you manage side effects that may be caused by your cancer treatment or the cancer itself. A PM&R doctor is specially trained to diagnose and treat problems with nerves, muscles, bones and the brain. The PM&R doctor will work closely with physical and occupational therapy and with your OSUCCC – James medical team to develop a plan to reduce your symptoms and improve your level of activity.
PM&R services available to OSUCCC – James patients may include:
- Complete medical exam to determine functional ability
- Management of muscle, bone and joint pain
- Treatment of functional changes caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Evaluation for pain-management procedures, such as nerve blocks, joint or epidural injections, or neuromodulation
Speech-Language Pathology
Speech-language pathology helps survivors manage all aspects of swallowing and communication that may be affected by cancer or the treatment of cancer.
These can include:
- Rehabilitation of swallowing for eating and drinking after surgery or radiation treatment
- Comprehensive laryngectomy management related to voice and swallowing
- Strategies to improve memory and thinking skills
- Rehabilitation of the voice, including the professional/singing voice
The length of speech-language pathology treatment depends on the specific needs and goals of each patient. Some may need only a single visit to learn about their condition and to develop a home-management plan, while others may need speech pathology treatment that extends over weeks or months. Speech-language pathology is beneficial in any phase of cancer treatment and is tailored to each patient.
All of our speech-language pathologists are specialized in the treatment of cancer-related swallowing, voice and eating issues.
If you are interested in meeting with an OSUCCC – James oncology rehabilitation specialist, please call 614-293-5066 to schedule an appointment.