I know the feeling of trying something new and taking the step to making an appointment. I know I've often felt uncertain and not sure what to expect. I’ve often hesitated on the ‘book now’ button due to being uncertain about whether or not this was the place for me. One thing that was always useful was for a friend or family member to talk me through their experience - this provided clarity, certainty and awareness of what I was 'getting myself into!'

So for you, this is what to expect with cancer rehab physio and I hope it helps put you at ease. Of course if you have any further hesitations - please get in touch!

• After making an appointment that is convenient to you either you will turn up at the studio for a face to face appointment or if there is a COVID-19 concerns around this then online options are available.

• A welcome & introduction :-)

• A few consent forms are filled in

• We have a short or lengthy chat depending on your needs so I can get an idea of how to prioritise my physical assessment based on your aims, goals and needs.

• From this chat I figure out what physical movements or tests I need to look at and I'll instruct you to perform these.

• The final part is creating a treatment plan which may include relaxing & healing manual therapies, education, therapeutic exercise, fitness programmes and so much more. This entire process is collaborative and customised to YOU and your needs so that you leave understanding what are the main findings, what you need to do to reach your aims and how I can support you along the way.

What are some of the areas clients work on whilst they are completing physiotherapy? (Each individual will have their own but these are a few that come up often).

• A desire to return to work

• Focus on return to sport, increasing length of time in the garden, ability to walk longer distances without fatiue.

• Functional tasks: Ability to get dressed using both hands, washing hair, walking to the letter box, cooking own meals, driving, picking up kids, babysitting grandkids without getting too exhausted.

• Removal of walking aids (walking frame, crutches, walking stick, independence outdoor walking).

• Reduction of falls risk and increased self confidence

• To keep as active as possible for as long as possible

• A desire to minimise side effects from cancer treatments.

What are some of the therapies, exercises and methods that are used whilst completing physiotherapy?

There are lots of skills, strategies and options that I can tailor to your individual circumstances.

Common ones include:

• Education - without education, you don’t know what is happening and how you can adjust your daily life to help your recovery. Common areas of education include around healing timeframes, side effects of cancer therapies, fatigue management strategies and education of other cancer services that you may benefit from.

• The use of manual therapies to support post operative recovery (think reduction in pain, optimising function, reduction of lymphoedema).

• Specific lymphoedema therapy - education, home exercise for lymphatic drainage, referral to other health professionals to facilitate reduction of lymphoedema.

• Breathing re-education - common requirement after surgery, radiotherapy and any painful cancer treatments.

• Exercise - this has to be the main therapy I offer. It often starts EXTREMELY GENTLY. At an initial stage it doesn’t look anything like what you would see at the gym or fitness centres. It is tailored to ensuring your body starts to move and then we progress from there as able. Eventually aiming to get health related benefits from regular, progressive cardiovascular and resistance exercise (where appropriate) and this can start to look more like what you would see in a pilates class or gym setting. However, in the first instance the key is rehab which can be more focussed on specific areas of the body that need care and attention.

• Flexibility exercises - it is incredibly common that due to the side effects of cancer treatments client complain of various inflexibility related complaints across the body. Gentle exercise and where appropriate manual therapy is used to improve flexibility.

• Home Exercises - where appropriate I teach home exercises and even home based manual therapy that you can apply to yourself to maintain and improve your function between physiotherapy sessions. Self management strategies are often hugely valued by clients.

Ultimately you will feel heard, understood and seen. You will leave with a plan and a supportive physio to guide and care for you along the way.

If you have any questions or wish to find out more, please get in touch with me or click the button for more information about Physiotherapy.