#THIRDTHURSDAY: Therapeutic Exercise, Manual Therapy and Modalities in Patients with Cancer (October 2019)

Pain, fatigue and weakness are common symptoms in both cancer patients and cancer survivors, uniquely positioning physical therapists to provide treatments that improve oncology outcomes. Current evidence strongly suggests cancer rehabilitation may improve quality of life, length of life and impact overall survival.

Therapeutic exercise and manual therapy can decrease the physiological, musculoskeletal and functional loss during treatment for cancer and fast track the road to health in survivorship. This lecture will cover the indications, contraindications and clinical decision making around using therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and modalities in patients with cancer or a history of cancer.

What to expect: 

Objectives:

By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:

• State 2 contraindications for therapeutic ultrasound in a person with a history of cancer.
• List 2 components of the decision making of doing joint manipulation to the spine in a person with a history of cancer.
• List 2 indications for soft tissue manipulation in a patient post cancer surgery.
• List 2 contraindications for soft tissue manipulation in a patient post radiation therapy.
• List 2 indications for therapeutic exercise in persons in active cancer treatment
• List 2 components of a therapeutic exercise program to combat fatigue. 

About the Speaker

Leslie J. Waltke, PT, DPT s a physical therapist with a clinical mastery in cancer rehabilitation and Founder of the Waltke Cancer Rehabilitation Academy, a provider of world class cancer rehabilitation continuing education. Since earning her degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Wisconsin in 1988, Dr. Waltke has dedicated most of her career solely to treating the cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, integumentary and functional needs of persons during and after treatment for cancer. Over the past decades Dr. Waltke has cared for thousands of people with cancer and has a following of beloved patients. She is respected nationally and internationally as an oncology physical therapist, cancer rehabilitation key opinion leader, author, educator and consultant.

Since 2005 Dr. Waltke has been the Cancer Rehabilitation Coordinator for Aurora Health Care, one of the United States’ largest cancer programs and proud holder of the rare Commission on Cancer “Outstanding Achievement Award.” Her role, in addition to treating patients with cancer, includes cancer rehabilitation program development, education and training, and best practice and clinical standards development. Cancer rehabilitation programs are now available at each of Aurora Health Care’s 14 hospitals and at 27 outpatient Aurora Rehabilitation Centers throughout Wisconsin. The Commission on Cancer and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers have consistently described her cancer rehabilitation programs as “excellent” “amazing” and “outstanding.”

A gifted and impassioned speaker, Dr. Waltke teaches and lectures throughout the world to rehab professionals, universities, medical and oncology providers, cancer organizations as well as cancer patients and survivors. She recently spoke at the 2014 China Cancer Congress and the 2015 and 2017 World Cancer Congresses.

Dr. Waltke is the founder of the YouTube channel “The Recovery Room,” a platform of short positive, medically accurate educational videos for cancer patients and survivors. She too runs a video series for healthcare providers interested in cancer Rehab titled “Dr. Waltke’s Tip Jar.”

Dr. Waltke is a former Board Member of the Oncology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, an APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor, on the Specialization Academy of Content Experts and a is a founding and current board member of ABCD, Inc After Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Recent honors include the “2014 Article of the Year Award” from the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, the 2015 Academic Excellence and Leadership Award from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, and the 2015 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education Recognition scholarship.

 

This program was originally recorded October 17, 2019.

You can even earn 2 FREE CE:  

1. Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.
2. Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.
3. Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award.  If you are an IPTA member, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development.