PACED's Summary Digest Highlights Vital Role of Occupational Therapy in Orthopaedic Oncology

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A recent scoping review published in SPCare: Palliative and Supportive Care emphasizes the critical role of occupational therapy (OT) for individuals facing orthopaedic oncology diagnoses, including primary bone cancers and metastatic disease. The review highlights how OTs excel at addressing the multifaceted challenges these patients face, from pain management and fall prevention to preserving cherished daily activities and supporting psychosocial wellbeing. As the field evolves, key trends include precision rehabilitation, virtual reality, telerehabilitation, and deeper integration with palliative and hospice care.

Why it matters

The review underscores the tangible benefits of OT for cancer patients, with a 2023 study showing a 15% improvement in functional independence for those receiving OT alongside standard care. However, the review also highlights a critical gap - the need for more standardized, evidence-based OT interventions. Addressing this gap through robust research and collaboration between OTs, oncologists, and researchers will be crucial to advancing supportive care for orthopaedic oncology patients.

The details

Occupational therapists excel at addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by patients with bone cancer or spinal metastases, from pain and reduced mobility to the fear of falls. They don't just focus on physical limitations, but consider the 'occupation of living' - the daily activities that give life meaning. Common OT interventions include pain management strategies, fall prevention programs, energy conservation techniques, and caregiver education. The future of OT in this space involves more personalized, tech-enabled approaches, such as precision rehabilitation based on genomics and biomarkers, virtual reality for functional task practice, and telerehabilitation to expand access to care. There is also a growing focus on addressing psychosocial wellbeing and supporting long-term cancer survivorship.

• A 2023 study by the National Cancer Institute showed that patients receiving OT alongside standard cancer care reported a 15% improvement in functional independence.
• The scoping review was recently published in SPCare: Palliative and Supportive Care.

What’s next

The review emphasizes the need for well-designed clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of specific OT interventions and identify best practices. This will require collaboration between OTs, oncologists, and researchers.