World Cancer Day: Manual Therapy to Support Cancer Recovery
Posted Monday, Feb 3, 2025 by Dr Cloe Crowhurst. Filed under Conditions
Cancer recovery is often a long and challenging journey, both physically and emotionally.
The disease itself and the often aggressive medical treatments required to battle the disease can result in a range of debilitating symptoms, including pain, fatigue, and stress.
While these issues can be managed medically, many patients are seeking alternative or complementary approaches to support their recovery and improve their quality of life.
In honour of World Cancer Day tomorrow, it's important to remember that recovery from cancer is not solely about eliminating the disease. It's about caring for the whole person. Managing their symptoms and improving their quality of life.
Manual therapists are playing an increasing role in supporting cancer patients throughout their recovery process.
Practitioners can use gentle treatments to help manage symptoms, alleviate discomfort, and promote overall well-being
Manual Therapy can be an effective intervention, which may have immediate effect on cancer pain and may improve physical function and global well-being (Zhang et al, 2021).
Treatment type and intensity will always be dependent upon the patient’s symptoms, degree of pain/sensitivity and preference.
Treatment types may include:
- Soft tissue massage; ranging from gentle manual lymphatic drainage techniques to deep tissue and trigger point release.
- Aimed toward; lymphatic drainage, pain management, breakdown of scar tissue and adhesions, increasing range of motion, general relaxation.
In a randomised study by Sood and Barton (2010), researchers found that cancer patients who received massage therapy alongside standard care experienced statistically significant reduction in fatigue as well as greater improvement in symptoms of distress, nausea, and state anxiety when compared to the control group.
- Guided Relaxation/Breathing Exercises; including coaching on diaphragmatic breath, meditation, movement and self-massage practices for relaxation.
- Aimed toward pain, stress and fatigue management
Evidence suggests the use of combined guided self-massage, stretching and relaxation/breathing exercises may assist in reducing cancer-related fatigue (Sood & Barton, 2010).
- Stretching and Muscle Energy Technique (MET)
- Aimed toward; pain management, breakdown of scar tissue and adhesions, increasing range of motion and overall comfort.
Research suggests that there may even be benefit associated simply with receiving therapeutic touch. When compared with standard care hands-on therapy was associated with improved fatigue and pain ratings (Sood & Barton, 2010).
These therapies are generally non-invasive, gentle, and well-tolerated by patients.
Potentially making them a valuable complement to traditional cancer therapies.
References
1. Zhang, Y., Lin, L., Li, H., Hu, Y., & Liu, C. (2021). Clinical evidence for the effects of manual therapy on cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Research and Management, 2021, Article 6678184. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6678184
2. Sood, A., & Barton, D. (2010). Complementary and alternative treatments for the management of cancer-related fatigue. In Alternative and complementary therapies for cancer (pp. 371–391). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0020-3_15
Dr Cloe graduated from RMIT with a Bachelor of Health Science and Bachelor of Applied Science (Osteopathy)