Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
| The Physiotherapy Department consists of six staff delivering a variety of services to inpatients and outpatients across all 11 tumour streams. These include a regular Inpatient Maintenance Exercise Group, acute cardiopulmonary services to surgical and Intensive Care Unit patients, comprehensive ward-based assessment, treatment and discharge planning and an outpatient service, predominantly delivering specialised lymphoedema management. All these services aim to optimise patients’ function and symptoms and to achieve their individual treatment goals. | ||||||
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| What we do? >> | ||||||
| The role of exercise in cancer >> | ||||||
| Physiotherapy for Peter Mac Inpatients >> | ||||||
| Physiotherapy for Peter Mac Outpatients >> | ||||||
| Lymphoedema Clinic >> | ||||||
| The Physiotherapy Team >> | ||||||
| Contact Us >> | ||||||
| Useful Links >> | ||||||
What do we do? | ||||||
| The physiotherapy department at Peter Mac serves the physiotherapy needs of inpatients and outpatients. The department provides patient-focused care in partnership with patients, their families, and other Peter Mac staff. We have a strong commitment to interdisciplinary patient management and work closely with nursing, medical and other allied health staff to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients. The physiotherapy department services are available to Peter Mac patients across all clinical streams. Examples of specialist physiotherapy services provided at Peter Mac are as follows: | ||||||
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The role of exercise in cancer | ||||||
| The physiotherapy department offers a number of services based around exercise to help a patient maintain their level of function throughout their cancer journey. These can range from specially prescribed ‘therapeutic’ exercises for rehabilitation of a particular problem to a general exercise program to enhance recuperation and recovery from treatment. Recent evidence suggests that exercise can play an important role in the management of the side effects of cancer and its treatment such as fatigue. It may also help to improve functional performance and quality of life. | ||||||
Hospital inpatients | ||||||
| The physiotherapy department runs a Maintenance Exercise Group three times a week for hospital inpatients. This group is run by our exercise physiologist and physiotherapists and aims to help patients maintain function and independence during longer hospital stays. Held in the Physiotherapy Department Gym, it allows patients to exercise in a group environment with dedicated exercise equipment. Patients interested in participating can ask their treating physiotherapist, nurse or doctor. | ||||||
Outpatients | ||||||
| Exercise programs can be prescribed for outpatients to target a specific problem or to generally improve activity levels, function and quality of life. Patients can be referred for a review by a physiotherapist and then in keeping with their own individual needs and goals have a program prescribed by the physiotherapist or exercise physiologist. It is important that before starting any exercise program medical clearance is sought to ensure it is safe to commence. | ||||||
Lymphoedema Service | ||||||
| Lymphoedema is a condition involving localised swelling of a body part, typically one or more of the limbs. Whilst it’s not common, it can sometimes occur following surgery or radiotherapy to the lymph nodes. Lymphoedema can be managed by a physiotherapist, registered nurse or occupational therapist who has undertaken specialised lymphoedema management training. Typically a variety of techniques are used which often include combinations of education, skin care, exercise, massage, compression garments or bandaging. The physiotherapy department at Peter Mac offers a lymphoedema service including: | ||||||
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| To access this service you will require a referral from your treating medical or nursing team. | ||||||
The Physiotherapy Team | ||||||
| The physiotherapy department consists of several full-time, part-time and casual staff including: physiotherapists, an exercise physiologist and an allied health assistant. | ||||||
Contact Us | ||||||
| The physiotherapy department operates from 8.00am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday. We also provide a prioritised half day service on Saturdays and Sundays for acutely unwell inpatients. The physiotherapy department is located at Peter Mac East Melbourne on level 4 in the Tower Block. Phone: 03 9656 1234. Fax: 03 9656 1855. Enquiries can be directed to our email address: physiotherapy@petermac.org or alternatively to Anya Traill, Head of Physiotherapy. | ||||||
Useful Links | ||||||
| The Lymphoedema Association of Victoria | ||||||
| www.lav.org.au | ||||||
| The Australian Physiotherapy Association | ||||||
| www.physiotherapy.asn.au | ||||||
| The Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science | ||||||
| http://www.essa.org.au/ | ||||||
| The Australian Government's “Choose Health, Be Active” : A Physical Activity Guide for Older Australians. | ||||||
| www.health.gov.au |
