Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation within Pediatric Cancer Care: A Holistic Approach

Abstract

As pediatric cancer survival rates improve so should the overall rehabilitative care. While the role of physical therapists and gross motor functional deficits are becoming better understood, there has been less of an emphasis on the role of occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. Pediatric cancer treatment impacts the whole child and the whole family. Gross motor, cognitive, activities of daily living, and fine motor impairments should be evaluated at the start, during, and after cancer treatment. Incorporating the whole rehabilitation team will improve the child's functional outcome and allow for developmentally appropriate gains.