Occupational Therapy

The department provides a wide spectrum of evidence-based interventions tailored to the individual needs of patients. Core areas of service include:

• Prehabilitation: Occupational Therapy is an integral component of oncology Prehabilitation, aimed at evaluating baseline functions and optimizing a patient’s functional capacity prior to the initiation of cancer treatment. Prehabilitation interventions addressing physical endurance, activities of daily living modifications and counselling can mitigate treatment-related side effects and improve postoperative recovery.
• Management of Post-Surgical, Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Induced Functional Limitations: Restoration of functions to optimise functioning in daily living skills following breast, head and neck, bone and soft tissue and other oncological surgeries. Trismus, Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy are also treated by the Occupational Therapy Department.
• Cancer-Related Fatigue Management: We provide Education to Individuals regarding Structured activity planning, energy conservation techniques and lifestyle modification strategies.
• Pain Management: Measures for positioning, orthoses, assistive and adaptive devices, mirror therapy for phantom limb pain and relaxation techniques.
• Lymphedema and Edema Management: Swelling of upper limb, lower limb, head and neck and genital region are managed through Complete decongestive therapy involving skin care, positioning, manual lymphatic drainage, decongestive exercises, multi-layer lymphedema bandaging and compression garments.
• Hand Therapy: This domain of intervention focusses on restoration of upper extremity and hand functions including dexterity, coordination, in-hand manipulation through splinting, therapeutic approaches and activities.
• Cognitive Rehabilitation: Evaluation and Intervention for cognitive dysfunction, including memory, attention, executive function deficits.
• Assistive Technology and Environmental Adaptation: Prescription of Appropriate Orthoses, Prostheses and adaptive devices and providing recommendations for home and workplace modifications.
• Sexual Rehabilitation: Sexual rehabilitation in oncology within Occupational Therapy addresses the impact of cancer and its treatment on sexual health. Interventions may include education, sexual counselling, activities to improve pelvic floor muscles and guidance on strategies such as vaginal dilation for correction in vaginal stricture.
• Bone Marrow Transplantation: The Services include addressing functional and psychosocial needs of Inpatients and Outpatients.
• Psychosocial and Vocational Rehabilitation: Guidance, Work conditioning and Work Hardening activities for reintegration into work, education, and community roles.
• Palliative Care: Occupational Therapy in Palliative Care involves therapeutic strategies for Symptom based management including oedema care, dyspnoea management, and pain management through Spinal Braces, Adaptive Equipment, Energy Conservation Techniques, Activity of Daily Living and Environmental Modifications.

The Occupational Therapy Department is actively engaged in academic advancement and capacity building in the field of oncology rehabilitation. It contributes to the professional development of undergraduate and postgraduate students through annual Continuing Medical Education and Observership Programmes. The Department also runs a one-year Advanced Fellowship programme in Onco-Occupational Therapy with admissions twice yearly.

The department maintains a strong focus on research aimed at advancing evidence-based practice in oncology rehabilitation through case report publications, observational studies and ongoing randomized controlled trials.

Department of Occupational Therapy
RRU/107
Ext. No. – 8245
Email: occupationaltherapy.dept@actrec.gov.in