Head and neck cancer treatments can impact your ability to physically perform your daily activities. Some survivors may experience:
• Radiation fibrosis, or scar restriction, creating the sensation of throat, neck, or shoulder tightness
• Postural changes, causing a forward head or making it harder to hold your head up
• Weakness, muscle spasm, or pain in the face, neck, shoulders, or arms,
• Swelling or Lymphedema in the face and neck
• Limited jaw opening making it harder to eat, drink, or perform oral hygiene
• Difficulty moving your tongue, affecting both speech and eating
• A decline in balance or increased fear of falling
• Weakness, poor endurance, or fatigue
It is common for patients to experience more than one of these conditions at the same time. Your UPMC Rehabilitation Institute physical therapist can address all of them during your treatment.
After completing an evaluation and discussing your needs, a specially-trained physical therapist may recommend a variety of therapies, including manual techniques, massage, stretching, and exercise, to help improve your physical functioning and prevent further disability.
If you would like a referral to a physical therapist, we can provide you with a prescription and help you identify the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute location that is closest to you.
Common Symptoms and Treatment Effects
Trismus: Radiation of the neck and face may lead to fibrosis of the chewing muscles and the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), making it difficult to open your mouth, chew, swallow, speak clearly, or care for your teeth. RI therapists use myofascial techniques and exercises to reduce tissue and joint stiffness to improve your ability to open your mouth.
Head and Neck Lymphedema: Lymphedema, an abnormal collection of fluid in the soft tissues, occurs when the lymph nodes are radiated or removed. This can result in face, jaw, or neck swelling, tightness, and heaviness. Treatment includes manual lymph drainage (MLD) massage, an exercise done to remove the excess fluid. Fluid drainage can be complicated by scar and tissue restrictions, which an RI therapist can address through manual therapy techniques. A nighttime compression garment or compression pump may be helpful in maintaining the fluid reduction.
Myofascial Stiffness or Pain: Myofascial stiffness refers to tightness or restrictions of the muscle and fascia, your connective tissue which surrounds the muscle. This can occur after radiation, surgery, or at any point during recovery, and can cause joint, muscle, or skin tension and/or pain, making it difficult to swallow, speak, or move your neck. RI therapists address these restrictions using deep muscle tissue techniques, strength training, postural retraining, and stretching to reduce pain and help get you back to the things you enjoy.
Swallowing and Speech Difficulty: Speech language pathologists at RI work with your physician to determine the extent of your swallowing difficulties and then teach you swallowing strategies to better manage food and drink as appropriate. They will prescribe exercises to improve your tongue’s motion and speech patterns, working together with oncology physical therapists specialized in managing myofascial stiffness and pain to help you reach your goals.