Prehab Program
Cancer prehabilitation involves interventions designed to reduce cancer treatment complications and improve physical health. Pre-cancer treatment therapy interventions can improve patients' tolerance to treatments by intervening early and by providing patients with education and exercise recommendations (and precautions) for during cancer treatments. Our Prehab protocols have been successful in assisting cancer patients more successfully navigate chemotherapy and radiation treatments as well as aiding patients in preparing for the rigors of cancer surgery.
Through our Prehab Program, we provide pre-treatment baseline patient assessments to identify any pre-treatment impairments that may need to be addressed. Our exercise programs address any areas of weakness or impairment found -and have demonstrated that being stronger and more able to withstand treatments enables patients to reduce the likelihood of treatment dose reductions or other complications. Studies show that being physically ready for cancer treatment improves tolerance to treatment and improves overall outcomes.
Prepare for Cancer Treatment With Our Prehabilitation Program
Prehab is commonly used prior to orthopedic surgeries and has proven to improve post-surgical outcomes such as faster return to function, decreased length of hospital stay and decreased post-surgical complications. New research is now showing that the same principles can be effective with assisting cancer patients to improve their physical condition prior to treatment thus improving outcomes post-treatment as well. Cancer prehabilitation involves interventions designed to reduce cancer treatment complications and improve physical health.
Pre-cancer treatment therapy interventions can improve patients’ tolerance to treatments by intervening early and by providing patients with education and exercise recommendations (and precautions) for maintaining activity during cancer treatments. Our Prehab protocols have been successful in assisting cancer patients more successfully navigate chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Prehabilitation, or prehab, provides newly diagnosed cancer patients with a full picture of what they can expect during all phases of their cancer journey, from diagnosis through treatment and cancer rehabilitation therapy. Informed patients typically experience less anxiety and are more aware of potential complications leading them to seek medical attention promptly, should possible problems arise.
Prehab often includes routine exercises to ensure the patient is in optimal shape which allows for a better recovery, maximum function and quality of life.
"Rehabilitation of the patient with cancer should begin when disability is anticipated, rather than after it has occurred."
― Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Board Review (NCBI) .
What Does "Prehab" Include?
Pre-treatment baseline measurements of joint range of motion, strength, endurance, balance, arm or leg volumes are taken to enable faster identification of the onset of a condition or physical decline resulting from treatment. Education on healthy lifestyle habits and ways to reduce your risk of post-treatment complications or conditions. It is important to know what you can do to improve your outcomes - before even starting treatment. Patients that are better informed are shown to have improved outcomes.
Prehab is an intervention-based part of rehab medicine to improve certain outcomes. Additionally, education is provided on activity levels recommended during cancer treatment, any precautions and potential complications if activity levels are too challenging - or not challenging enough. Remaining as active as possible during cancer treatment leads to fewer complications, less likelihood of treatment interruption and improved overall tolerance of treatment.
Prehab Interventions:
Before Chemotherapy
Fatigue management strategies, energy conservation education, nutrition education. Recommended activity/exercise levels to prevent physical deconditioning during treatment.
For patients who are already weak before treatment (or patients who want to maximize their physical condition prior to starting treatment), your oncologist may recommend physical therapy. It is shown that patients who begin treatment in good physical condition tolerate treatments better and have improved overall outcomes.
At times, chemotherapy needs to be placed on hold if patients become too weak. At this time, your oncologist may recommend physical therapy to help you get strong enough to continue your treatment.
Before Surgery
Education regarding your surgery and potential complications that you should report to your oncologist or surgeon. Exercises that are recommended to complete (after certain surgeries).
A pre-surgical exercise program to improve your overall physical condition or to address any pre-surgical physical impairments. It is shown that pre-surgical strengthening and conditioning leads to improved post-surgical outcomes, fewer post-surgical complications and facilitates a faster return to pre-surgical activity.
Before Radiation
Range of motion exercises as needed to ensure positioning for treatment is possible/attainable.
Education regarding radiation and potential complications that you should report to your radiation oncologist or oncologist.
Exercise to improve your optimal function before radiation treatment begins.
Harvard Medical School researchers Drs. Silver and Jennifer Baima say that prehabilitation interventions for cancer patients can reduce treatment-related complications, shorten hospital stays, increase available treatment options, and facilitate their return to optimal functionality.
Improve your cancer treatment outcomes - talk to your oncologist about a Prehab referral today
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