A Literature Review of Physical Therapy Following Neck Dissection in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Physiology and Health

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Terrence Day, Medical University of South Carolina

Abstract

Physical therapy is typically recommended for patients who have undergone a neck dissection, a common surgery performed on head and neck cancer patients to remove enlarged lymph nodes. Head and neck cancers are becoming increasingly common due to the rise in HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer. There is currently no uniform treatment or standard set of exercises given to patients, so this study is designed to look at the most effective therapy through a review of the scientific literature on PubMed. There is an insufficient number of studies to allow for significant findings, however overhead exercises have been shown to be the most effective based on the few studies that exist on the topic. The literature did illustrate that there are other ways to manage pain such as acupuncture and massage in place of, or in addition to, physical therapy.

Location

Wall 318

Start Date

3-25-2017 8:45 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 8:45 AM

A Literature Review of Physical Therapy Following Neck Dissection in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Wall 318

Physical therapy is typically recommended for patients who have undergone a neck dissection, a common surgery performed on head and neck cancer patients to remove enlarged lymph nodes. Head and neck cancers are becoming increasingly common due to the rise in HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer. There is currently no uniform treatment or standard set of exercises given to patients, so this study is designed to look at the most effective therapy through a review of the scientific literature on PubMed. There is an insufficient number of studies to allow for significant findings, however overhead exercises have been shown to be the most effective based on the few studies that exist on the topic. The literature did illustrate that there are other ways to manage pain such as acupuncture and massage in place of, or in addition to, physical therapy.