Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects your blood cells and can be physically and mentally damaging. Symptoms can include bone pain, fatigue, weakness, weight loss and difficulty breathing. Physical therapy is recommended to help fight these symptoms. The goal of therapy is to alleviate the side effects of multiple myeloma and improve a patient's quality of life as much as possible.
Multiple Myeloma
According to MayoClinic.com, almost 20,000 new cases of plasma cell myeloma occur in the United States each year. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of your plasma cells -- a type of white blood cell found in bone marrow. With multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells multiply, causing reduced blood production, which leads to anemia. Other symptoms can include bone pain, high calcium levels that cause nausea and confusion, infections, headaches, tingling or numbness in extremities, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnosis involves a series of blood and urine tests followed by a bone marrow biopsy.
Physical Therapy Goals
The goal of physical therapy during your treatment for multiple myeloma is to make you feel as well as possible, both physically and mentally. This includes reducing stress, prevent fatigue and improve overall quality of life. Common treatment options for multiple myeloma include chemotherapy and radiation, two procedures that can take a toll on you physically. However, exercise can help boost your body's tolerance for these treatments, and increase your heart rate and muscle flexion. Physical therapy also aims to walking and moving in order to boost your boost your energy level in coping with multiple myeloma.
Physical Therapy
There is no physical therapy treatment specifically for multiple myeloma. General therapy may help alleviate the symptoms of the disease. A physical therapist can help you formulate a routine of basic exercises to complete.
Fatigue and anemia are some of the characteristics of multiple myeloma. The growth of myeloma cells cause a decrease in blood production, which leads to a decrease in oxygen. To fight fatigue, one of the main components of your therapy should be cardiovascular. Exercises such as walking, swimming or using a stationary bike can strengthen your heart and lungs. You also can take part in strength training to build muscle and bone strength and stretching exercises to loosen and relax stiff joints and muscles. Ensuring that your bones are strong is an important of physical therapy for multiple myeloma. When myeloma cells are growing, they produce chemicals that dissolve bone, causing pain and putting you at greater risk for bone fractures. Aside from the physical aspect, occupational therapy can help you to perform daily activities based on your possible physical limitations, and speech pathology to teach speech therapy and address any swallowing problems that may cause difficulty in consuming food.
Considerations
Your physical therapy should be supervised by a physical therapist or certified fitness trainer. Physical therapist should be educated in working with cancer patients. If using a trainer, make sure they are certified by a respected group, such as the American College of Sports Medicine or National Strength and Conditioning Association. In order to be certified, a trainer must pass an exam evaluating his knowledge of various illnesses and disabling conditions.
