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Cancers
Special Issues
Physiotherapy in Advanced Cancer and Palliative Care
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Physiotherapy in Advanced Cancer and Palliative Care

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 3603

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Nele Adriaenssens

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
Interests: cancer related and filariasis related lymphedema; (peri-operative) complex physical therapy; exercise-oncology; palliative care; body composition (sarcopenic obesity) in cancer

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Oncologic palliative care is a crucial part of integrated, patient-centered health services. Addressing palliative needs in cancer patients, be they physical, psychological, social, or spiritual, is a global ethical responsibility.

Given the WHO’s definition of palliative care, interventions provided by palliative care have a broad focus and can therefore not be delivered by a single profession. Multiple professions organized in teams are therefore common in palliative care. This Special Issue wishes to provide insights into the role of physiotherapy, amongst others, in palliative care.

We advocate a place for physiotherapy within multidisciplinary, patient-centered oncologic palliative care, in order to start helping patients even more closely, working towards their needs and providing comfort.  Early referral to palliative care physiotherapy has previously been linked to higher functioning patients, and therefore appropriate referral to palliative care physiotherapy is critical for optimal and patient-centered care.

Moreover, by means of this Special Issue, we want to prevent misconceived perceptions of the inappropriateness of physiotherapy for terminally ill cancer patients. As Cicely Saunders, one of the founders of the modern hospice movement, once said: "You matter because you're you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you to die peacefully, but also to live until you die." We believe that physiotherapy can help cancer patients to live their lives how they want in every stage of their life-threatening disease. Providing the best possible and highest quality care, this is what we should strive for.

This Special Issue therefore aims to contribute to the growth of this promising field.

Dr. Nele Adriaenssens
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • advanced cancer
  • palliative care
  • palliative needs
  • physiotherapy
  • physical therapy modalities
  • quality of life
  • physical autonomy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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15 pages, 870 KiB  
Article
Physiotherapy in German Palliative Care—A Nationwide Survey Among Physiotherapists
by Paula Vradelis, Anna Elisabeth Pape, Martin Gschnell and Christian Volberg
Cancers 2025, 17(8), 1311; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17081311 - 13 Apr 2025
Viewed by 652
Abstract
Objective: The aim of physiotherapy interventions for palliative care patients is to relieve pain, promote active movement and thereby improve quality of life and wellbeing. Physiotherapy is an important adjunct to medical and pharmacological treatments. The aim of this study is to identify [...] Read more.
Objective: The aim of physiotherapy interventions for palliative care patients is to relieve pain, promote active movement and thereby improve quality of life and wellbeing. Physiotherapy is an important adjunct to medical and pharmacological treatments. The aim of this study is to identify the specific challenges, self-perceptions and therapeutic approaches of physiotherapists working in palliative care. Methods: An online survey of German physiotherapists was conducted using a 22-question questionnaire. The quantitative data were analysed descriptively (frequencies and percentages), and the qualitative responses were reviewed and grouped thematically. Results: A total of 450 valid responses were evaluated, of which 349 respondents worked in palliative care. The most common treatments for palliative care patients are respiratory therapy (85.8%), general physiotherapy measures (82.4%) and massages (72.9%). The analysis of the free-text responses identified five topics representing the work and challenges of physiotherapists in palliative care. A key issue identified is that the standard 20 min therapy session covered by health insurance is often insufficient to meet the individual needs and daily conditions of each patient. Physiotherapists with no previous experience of palliative care patients often require additional training and often feel inadequately prepared to work effectively with this patient population without appropriate further training. Many physiotherapists believe that they are involved in treatment too late. In addition, other healthcare professionals may not fully recognise the scope of their expertise. Conclusions: Physiotherapy in palliative care requires sensitivity, adaptability and sufficient time. Further training and early involvement are necessary to better address patients’ needs and harness the therapeutic potential of physiotherapists. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy in Advanced Cancer and Palliative Care)
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16 pages, 1201 KiB  
Systematic Review
Recommended Physiotherapy Modalities for Oncology Patients with Palliative Needs and Its Influence on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: A Systematic Review
by Luna Gauchez, Shannon Lauryn L. Boyle, Shinfu Selena Eekman, Sarah Harnie, Lore Decoster, Filip Van Ginderdeuren, Len De Nys and Nele Adriaenssens
Cancers 2024, 16(19), 3371; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16193371 - 1 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2308
Abstract
Background: This review aims to explore the role of physiotherapy in early and traditional palliative care (PC) for oncology patients, focusing on its impact on six patient-reported outcomes (PROMs), namely fatigue, pain, cachexia, quality of life (QoL), physical functioning (PHF), and psychosocial functioning [...] Read more.
Background: This review aims to explore the role of physiotherapy in early and traditional palliative care (PC) for oncology patients, focusing on its impact on six patient-reported outcomes (PROMs), namely fatigue, pain, cachexia, quality of life (QoL), physical functioning (PHF), and psychosocial functioning (PSF). The purpose is to assess the effectiveness of various physiotherapy interventions and identify gaps in the current research to understand their potential benefits in PC better. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, concluding on 21 December 2023. Two independent reviewers screened the articles for inclusion. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2 was employed to assess the risk of bias, while the GRADE approach was used to evaluate the certainty of the evidence. Results: Nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included, with most showing a high risk of bias, particularly in outcome measurement and missing data. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was the only intervention that significantly reduced fatigue, enhanced PHF, and improved QoL and emotional functioning. Graded exercise therapy (GET) did not yield significant results. Combined interventions, such as education with problem-solving or nutritional counseling with physical activity, showed no significant effects. Massage significantly improved QoL and reduced pain, while physical application therapies were effective in pain reduction. Mindful breathing exercises (MBE) improved QoL but had a non-significant impact on appetite. The overall certainty of the evidence was low. Conclusions: Physiotherapy can positively influence PROMs in oncology PC; however, the low quality and high risk of bias in existing studies highlight the need for more rigorous research to confirm these findings and guide clinical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiotherapy in Advanced Cancer and Palliative Care)
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