TOPIC

Oncology research

Everything we have read on oncology. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

332 PAPERS · PAGE 6 OF 7 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2024Analysis and relationship between the volume of upper limb lymphoedema and pressure pain threshold, neural range of motion, pain intensity, kinesiophobia, pain hypervigilance and catastrophizing in breast cancer survivors.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineBreast cancer survivors with lymphoedema had higher sensitivity to pressure pain and greater fear of movement than those without. However, the actual volume of the swollen limb did not correlate with pain intensity or fear levels. Treating the swelling size alone may not address the patient's pain experience.
• PTCase Report2024Physical therapist management and coordination of care to prevent pathological hip fracture from metastatic disease: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne woman with breast cancer bone metastases reported worsening left hip pain with walking during physical therapy. The therapist reported this to the physician, and imaging and prophylactic hip fixation followed. She later walked 140 feet with a walker at discharge.
• PTOTCohort2024Classification Into Different Patient Groups-A Step Toward Tailoring Care After Major Oncological Surgery?Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost patients shifted to low acceptance and control after major cancer surgery. Those in this group had significantly worse physical functioning and higher anxiety than those who kept high acceptance and control. Frequent post-op checks may help target support.
• PTOTPilot2024Virtual Assessment of Functional Mobility in Lower Extremity Prosthesis Clients: An Exploratory Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTwelve lower-limb prosthesis users completed a virtual mobility test at home. Their self-reported function scores matched the timed Up and Go results. A faster Up and Go time predicted a higher self-rated ability to handle daily activities.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Improved functional oral intake and exercise training attenuate decline in aerobic capacity following chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAerobic capacity and grip strength dropped significantly after chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer patients, with no recovery at 6-8 weeks. Patients who chose supervised exercise training had less decline. Improved swallowing function was strongly linked to better preserved aerobic capacity.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Exploring maintenance rehabilitation in adults with chronic conditions: a scoping review of the literature.Disability and rehabilitationMost maintenance therapy programs for chronic conditions focus on physical activity, with 87% of studies using movement-based interventions. Only 3% targeted cognition and 4% involved speech-language pathology. Programs are typically in-person, individual, and 60 minutes long, with 89% reporting positive results.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Behavior change theory and behavior change technique use in cancer rehabilitation interventions: a secondary analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineOnly 14% of cancer rehabilitation trials explicitly reported using behavior change theory. While specific techniques like goal setting and social support appeared in more successful interventions, the total number of techniques used did not predict better functional outcomes.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Embedding rehabilitation into cancer care continuum: an implementation study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineEmbedding a structured rehabilitation toolkit into routine cancer care improved patient function and quality of life scores from admission to discharge. Staff reported better communication and streamlined referrals, though time constraints and access to the electronic tool remained barriers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Fatigue among children and adolescents with acquired brain injury in a specialized neurorehabilitation setting.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFatigue improved during intensive neurorehabilitation, but only self-reported changes in general and sleep fatigue were significant. Parents consistently rated their child's fatigue as more severe than the children did, particularly regarding cognitive difficulties.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Attendance rate and perceived relevance related to type, content, and delivery of current rehabilitation programmes after surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients attending lung cancer rehab more often reported benefits, but attendance was linked to the programme's features, not its proven efficacy. Disease-specific offers led by physiotherapists with exercise and progress testing had the highest uptake. This describes what patients valued, not what works.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Integrating Fitness Training in Oncologic Care: Lessons Learned from a Large Telemedicine Trial.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationMost patients valued regular phone contact with a physical therapist coordinator more than the exercise itself. They used these calls to reframe goals and manage fatigue. Oncologists remained skeptical, citing workflow barriers and doubts about the value of exercise for late-stage cancer.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions in patients with colorectal cancer: an overview of systematic reviews.Journal of rehabilitation medicineExercise and prehabilitation improve fitness and quality of life, but evidence for fatigue and mental health is weak. Nutritional supplements cut surgical infections, while acupuncture speeds gut recovery. Results vary widely because studies used different doses and timelines, so no single best rehabilitation method was identified.
• PTOTQualitative2025Secondary amputation: a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatment.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePatients who underwent secondary amputation after failed limb salvage described the surgery as a relief from chronic infection, not a loss. They emphasized that discussing amputation as a future option early in their care helped them cope and improved their quality of life.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Phenome-wide profiling identifies genotype-phenotype associations in Phelan-McDermid syndrome using family-sourced data from an international registry.Molecular autismChildren with larger 22q13 deletions in Phelan-McDermid syndrome had more severe motor delays, feeding problems, and medical issues like kidney defects. However, they showed less verbal speech, self-care, and social interaction. They were also less likely to have autism or ADHD diagnoses than those with smaller deletions.
• PTQualitative2024The views and experiences of people with myeloma referred for autologous stem cell transplantation, who declined to participate in a physiotherapist-led exercise trial: a qualitative study.Physiotherapy theory and practicePeople with myeloma who declined a physiotherapist-led exercise trial said travel to the London centre was tiring, time-consuming and worrying. They wanted clear activity advice, but most had not received any since diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2025Quantifying neurobehavioral profiles across neurodevelopmental genetic syndromes and idiopathic neurodevelopmental disorders.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCaregiver ratings showed people with PHTS, NFIX and SYNGAP1 had very low motor, daily living and processing speed scores. Each syndrome also had distinct symptoms, such as panic anxiety in NFIX and self-injury in SYNGAP1.
• PTOTCohort2025Malnutrition and sarcopenia in inpatient rehabilitation: prevalence and associations with changes in bodyweight, muscle strength, and functional independence.Journal of rehabilitation medicineOver a third of inpatient rehab patients had malnutrition or sarcopenia. Strength and function improved during rehab, but malnourished patients were still weaker and less independent at discharge. Many at-risk patients lost weight, suggesting follow-up is needed.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Prevalence of function-limiting late effects in survivors of head and neck cancer.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationSurvivors of head and neck cancer referred to rehabilitation had high rates of complex late effects. Ninety-two percent had swallowing difficulty, eighty-six percent had facial or neck lymphedema, and seventy-eight percent had cranial nerve dysfunction, indicating a need for comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment.
• PTOTCohort2024Effect of preoperative physical activity on postoperative outcomes in esophageal cancer.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery, higher preoperative walking activity was associated with better postoperative physical activity, exercise tolerance, and daily living independence at discharge.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Impact of Frailty on Post-Treatment Dysphagia in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.DysphagiaPatients with head and neck cancer who were frail before treatment had worse swallowing quality of life and higher toxicity-related dysphagia scores at every check up to 24 months after treatment. Frailty status was associated with worse outcomes, but both frail and non-frail patients deteriorated significantly.
• PTOTCohort2024Characterizing early postoperative changes in body composition in patients with secondary lymphedema after breast cancer surgery: potential screening indicators for preventive intervention.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn women who developed lymphedema, body composition changes appeared three months after surgery, before the limb volume increased by the 10% threshold used for diagnosis. Electrical impedance measures flagged these patients early, offering a window for intervention before swelling becomes obvious.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Quality of life in dysphagia and functional performance of cancer patients in palliative care.CoDASFor palliative cancer outpatients, worse physical performance tracked with a greater perceived impact of swallowing difficulties on quality of life. This link was not seen in inpatients. The study measured self-reported complaints rather than swallowing function, so it cannot confirm the cause.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Time to Onset of Dysphagia Following Head and Neck Radiation.DysphagiaNew swallowing problems mostly appear within six months of head and neck radiation, but 16% emerge later, up to years after treatment. Clinicians should maintain long-term monitoring for all survivors, as new dysphagia remains a risk even after a period of normal function.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Healthcare professionals' knowledge and practices in managing ototoxicity in children with cancer.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMost clinicians knew ototoxicity causes hearing loss, but nearly three-quarters did not know how long monitoring should continue after chemotherapy ends. Knowledge gaps persisted despite acknowledging the need for an audiologist's role, suggesting a disconnect between recognizing the problem and executing the protocol.
• PTSystematic Review2024Red flags for potential serious pathologies in people with neck pain: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines.Archives of physiotherapyOnly 12 of 29 neck pain guidelines recommended red flags for serious pathology, and most red flags were based on reasoning rather than diagnostic accuracy. Use the Canadian C-spine rule for post-traumatic fractures; otherwise treat red flags cautiously.
• PTOther2025A Scoping Review of Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy-Related Gait Abnormalities in Children With Cancer.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationChildren with cancer or chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy walked slower, took shorter steps, and had tighter ankles or less ankle dorsiflexion than controls. Across 3 small studies, the most consistent clue was ankle movement loss, not one universal gait pattern.
• PTSystematic Review2024Adverse events related to physiotherapy practice: a scoping review.Archives of physiotherapyAcross 58 studies, physiotherapy interventions were associated with adverse events including increased pain, falls, and haemodynamic instability. Musculoskeletal care most frequently reported pain and stiffness, while cardiorespiratory and neurological settings saw falls and vital sign changes. These events were attributed to the physiotherapy intervention.
• PTOther2025Contraindications to Whole-Body Cryostimulation (WBC). A position paper from the WBC Working Group of the International Institute of Refrigeration and the multidisciplinary expert panel.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesExperts agreed on an updated whole-body cryostimulation contraindication list, covering uncontrolled blood pressure, heart disease, cold intolerance, pregnancy, cancer and recent stroke. Use it for medical screening, not as proof the treatment works.
• PTOther2025Relationship between physical function and quality of life based on treatment timing in patients with advanced lung cancer.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn advanced lung cancer, patients on best supportive care had much worse walking, endurance, independence, fatigue and quality-of-life scores than those starting treatment. Walking speed was closely linked to daily function, fatigue and social life.
• PTQualitative2025Perceived bioethical issues in cancer rehabilitation: a qualitative study among Italian physiotherapists.Archives of physiotherapyItalian physiotherapists in cancer care struggle with four ethical dilemmas: patients kept unaware of their prognosis, families demanding unrealistic hope, balancing safety against aggressive mobilization, and knowing when to stop futile treatment.
• PTSurvey2025Health-related quality of life of individuals dealing with cancer in the Free State: A survey.The South African journal of physiotherapyCancer patients in one Free State hospital rated social and family support highest, emotional well-being lowest; many reported losing hope, nausea, and being bed-bound, despite feeling accepted and enjoying life.
• PTCohort2025Epidemiology of spinal cord injuries in three selected counties in Kenya.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn three Kenyan counties, spinal cord injuries mostly affected men aged 26 to 35. Motor vehicle accidents and falls caused nearly nine in ten injuries. Cervical lesions were most common, and neuropathic pain was the leading complication.
• PTOTCase Report2025Safety of cardiorespiratory and muscle fitness assessment in two children with leukemia during early chemotherapy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineTwo children undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia safely completed maximal exercise and strength tests during early treatment. No adverse effects occurred, and the testing did not disrupt their treatment schedule. This suggests rigorous physiological assessment is feasible early in therapy, though sample size is too small to confirm benefits.
• PTOTOther2025Reliability and validity of skin elasticity meter to measure skin mechanical properties in patients with lower extremity cancer-related edema.Journal of physical therapy scienceThe Cutometer skin elasticity meter is a reliable tool for assessing lower extremity edema in cancer patients. The distensibility parameter (Offset+R0) showed the highest consistency and correlated with limb circumference, making it the most robust metric for tracking skin changes.
• PTRCT2025Optimizing Pulmonary Health and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial Combining Incentive Spirometry and Aerobic Exercise.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAdding incentive spirometry to aerobic exercise improved lung capacity and quality of life more than aerobic exercise alone. The combined group saw greater gains in physical function and larger drops in breathlessness, fatigue, and insomnia after 8 weeks.
• PTPilot2025Need-based remote exercise management platform for colorectal cancer patients with intestinal stoma: design and pilot usability evaluation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPatients with colorectal cancer and an intestinal stoma rated a remote exercise platform 88.39 on a 0 to 100 usability score after four weeks. It shows the platform was easy to use, not that exercise helped recovery.
• PTRCT2025Sternal interferential current stimulation after sternotomy: A randomized, sham-controlled trial on pain and wound healing.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAdding sternal interferential current stimulation to standard cardiac rehabilitation reduced pain more than sham treatment over 21 days. It also lowered painkiller use and inflammation markers, but did not improve breathing capacity or quality of life beyond the rehabilitation programme itself.
• PTOTOther2025Validating the Core Set for Vocational Rehabilitation in a Population of Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThe CS-VR-Onco checklist successfully mapped return-to-work difficulties in 104 cancer survivors. It identified more problems in patients who reported difficulty returning to work and in those who had chemotherapy, confirming it can help target vocational rehabilitation.
• PTOTOther2026Validation of JEM Soignances Job-Exposure Matrix Through Comparison with Self-Reported Exposures Among Healthcare Workers in CONSTANCES.Journal of occupational rehabilitationA new tool for estimating job risks in healthcare workers matched self-reported data well for physical demands but poorly for psychosocial stress. It often underestimated associations with pain and depression, and failed to detect links between noise or chemicals and health outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Rehabilitation needs prior to adjuvant chemotherapy in a rural Swedish population.Journal of rehabilitation medicineBefore starting chemotherapy, many cancer patients and their families reported anxiety, depression, and unmet needs. Families often had higher unmet needs than patients, especially for information and coordination. Screening both groups early is necessary, as their needs differ and are not always obvious.
• PTNarrative Review2025The impact of second-generation androgen receptor pathway inhibitors on skeletal muscle morphology and strategies to mitigate their effects in prostate cancer patients.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesReview evidence links ADT plus androgen receptor pathway inhibitor therapy in metastatic prostate cancer to muscle loss, while small studies suggest progressive resistance exercise may improve strength and function. Most evidence is from castration-resistant patients, not the castration-sensitive group studied.
• PTSystematic Review2025The Use of Physiotherapy Navigators in Acute Cancer Care Settings: A Scoping Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationPhysiotherapy navigators in acute cancer care screen for mobility loss and triage patients to exercise or referrals, but no study tested whether this improves physical function or quality of life. The role lacks a standard definition, and funding and clinician awareness were the main barriers to implementation.
• PTPilot2025Pilot Study to Assess the Ability of a 4-Week, Home-Based, Electrical Muscle Stimulation Program to Improve Lower Extremity Function and Reduce Sarcopenia in Older Individuals With Cancer.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn 50 older patients with cancer, 4 weeks of home electrical muscle stimulation was associated with improved balance and walking speed in those with impaired lower extremity function, but not muscle strength or mass.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Barriers and Facilitators to Participating in Pediatric Oncology Rehabilitation: Childhood Cancer Survivor and Caregiver Perspectives.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationChildhood cancer survivors and caregivers identified barriers to rehabilitation participation, including inconsistent providers, lack of oncology-specific knowledge in community therapists, and insurance gaps. Facilitators included building trust through consistent care, flexible scheduling for treatment side effects, and clear discharge planning.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Telerehabilitation in Postoperative Breast Cancer Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesCompared with standard care, telerehabilitation after breast cancer surgery improved quality of life and reduced pain. Upper-limb function did not show a significant pooled improvement.
• PTOTOther2025Assessment of gait patterns in breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineBreast cancer survivors walked slower with shorter steps and a wider base than healthy women. These gait changes appeared within 12 months of surgery, suggesting early rehabilitation could help prevent mobility decline.
• PTOTOther2026Factors associated with long-term functional outcomes and participation in patients with colorectal cancers.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost colorectal cancer survivors reported good quality of life, but fatigue, pain, bowel and bladder problems, and unmet support needs were common. Lower pain and fatigue were linked with better quality of life.
• PTOTCase Series2026Effects of a tailored rehabilitation treatment in lower limb Soft Tissue Sarcomas reconstruction: a case series.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThree men with thigh sarcomas reconstructed with free muscle flaps improved walking speed and daily function after a 3-month tailored rehab program. Pain scores varied, but all reported better quality of life. Gains persisted at one-year follow-up, though results rely on crutch-assisted gait.
• PTOther2025Usability and expert validation of a virtual reality system for post-mastectomy rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences28 physiotherapy students and three practising physiotherapists rated a tennis-based virtual reality shoulder exercise as easy to use, comfortable, and low in discomfort. It was not tested in post-mastectomy patients, so it cannot show clinical benefit.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Characterizing Developmental and Behavioral Profiles in Developmental Synaptopathies to Inform Clinical Trial Endpoints.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesStandard IQ and autism tests often fail in children with severe intellectual disability because scores hit the bottom of the scale. Adaptive behavior measures like the Vineland worked for everyone, making them more reliable for tracking progress in clinical trials.