by Dr Binish Khan
As treatment approaches evolve, physiotherapy remains central in helping patients overcome the physical burdens imposed by cancer and its management.
The integration of physiotherapy within cancer care is essential for preserving physical function, preventing complications, and supporting individuals throughout their treatment and recovery. Its role extends from early intervention to long-term survivorship.
Colorectal cancer prevention is closely linked to physical fitness and sustained health. Regular exercise and weight management reduce risk by regulating hormone levels, particularly oestrogen and insulin, which are associated with cancer cell proliferation. A healthy body mass can mitigate obesity-related risk, while physical activity supports digestive health, limits inflammation, and enhances immune defence.
Physiotherapists strengthen the body, enhance mobility, reduce fatigue, and contribute to psychological stability. Cancer treatment often includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, each of which diminishes strength, function, and overall well-being. Prehabilitation improves pre-operative function and, when combined with structured inpatient rehabilitation, may reduce the duration of hospital stays for patients undergoing complex surgical procedures.
Exercise undertaken during prehabilitation improves fitness, supports postoperative recovery, and aids outcomes, particularly in selected malignancies. Tailored exercise regimens prevent muscle wastage, reinforce musculoskeletal strength, and improve cardiovascular and respiratory efficiency. Psychological preparation is equally critical, enabling patients to better endure the physiological demands of treatment.
Early physiotherapy is vital in postoperative care. It assists recovery and readies patients for subsequent interventions, including chemotherapy and radiation. Physiotherapists are integral to the multidisciplinary approach.
Their involvement reduces pain, addresses fatigue and mobility impairments, and enhances emotional and physical recovery. The continuous presence of physiotherapy from diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship leads to better outcomes, quicker return to routine activities, and a renewed sense of independence. As treatment approaches evolve, physiotherapy remains central in helping patients overcome the physical burdens imposed by cancer and its management.
Oncological rehabilitation specialists design bespoke movement-based therapies with clearly defined goals. Rehabilitation in colorectal cancer restores mobility through gradual movement, encouraging ambulation and thereby advancing healing. It lowers the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pressure ulcers while improving circulation vital for tissue repair. Pelvic floor rehabilitation targets muscle tone, promotes bladder and bowel control, and addresses related symptoms.
Complications such as cancer-related fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, muscle weakness, and lymphedema are managed along with issues common to abdominal surgeries. Exercise contributes to improved immune performance, regulated hormonal activity, and enhanced metabolic function, all of which help reduce recurrence. Physiotherapy supports patients in adapting to post-treatment changes, managing psychological strain, and returning to daily life.
(The author is a Consultant Physiotherapist at the Centre for Breast and Colorectal Cancers and Non-Cancer Disorders (CBCCD). A double gold medallist, she serves as a member and district coordinator of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists. Ideas are personal.)
