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Basic Anatomy and Physiology for Patients with Lymphedema Run time: 80 minutes |
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The occupational and physical therapists who staff Memorial Sloan-Kettering's physical rehabilitation department have special expertise in the care of patients with cancer. These therapists work closely with physiatrists -- physicians who specialize in rehabilitation medicine -- and other medical staff at Memorial Sloan-Kettering to provide physical and occupational therapy to both inpatients and outpatients and to improve patients' sense of wellbeing during and after cancer treatment. Through therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular training, patient and family education, and pulmonary rehabilitation, our therapists help patients' decrease the burden of disease and its treatment and regain their optimal functional capacity.
Occupational Therapy
Members of our occupational therapy division are dedicated to helping patients with cancer regain and improve the skills essential for independent functioning. Through skilled assessment techniques and a holistic approach to care, occupational therapists help patients regain independence in their daily activities such as dressing, grooming, bathing, and eating. They also work with patients to improve the psychological, social, and environmental factors that may contribute to patients' quality of life.
Physical Therapy
Our physical therapy division is dedicated to enabling patients with cancer to achieve their highest level of functional independence. Physical therapists help patients improve their quality of life by planning and administering individualized therapeutic exercise programs to restore function, diminish pain, increase endurance and strength, increase safety awareness, and incorporate patients' personal goals. Physical therapy services are offered both on an in-patient and out-patient basis.
Lymphedema
Memorial Sloan-Kettering's lymphedema division provides both inpatient and outpatient services to patients with lymphedema. Our occupational and physical therapists have specialized training in the management of lymphedema and provide bandaging, manual lymphatic drainage, therapeutic exercises, self massage training, and compression garment fitting to improve function and decrease lymphedema, and improve the quality of life of patients with this condition.
Rehabilitation Medicine
Rehabilitation medicine, or physiatry, is the medical discipline concerned with restoring and improving patients' function and quality of life. Physiatrists treat neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary disorders in patients with cancer, and they assist in the treatment of a variety of other medical conditions related to cancer or its treatments such as muscle or tendon injuries, spinal stenosis, neuropathies, stroke, brain injury, amputations, and chronic pain syndromes. Our physiatrists also provide patients who need them with customized orthotics and prosthetics to improve their function and independence with daily activities. These physicians work closely with our physical and occupational therapists.
