title: Motor and functional recovery after neck dissection: comparison of two early physical rehabilitation programmes.
abstract: The aim of this prospective, single-centre, non-randomized explorative study is to comparatively assess two-month results of two early rehabilitation programmes in patients receiving neck dissection for head and neck cancer, with the hypothesis that those not receiving therapist-assisted physiotherapy would take an active role in their own rehabilitation to enhance outcomes. At the European Institute of Oncology, Milan (Italy), 97 patients were registered during the pre-hospitalization period and divided into an Autonomous group (living distant from the hospital) and a Physio group (living near). As expected, only 50 patients (25 per group) completed the study. Both groups received a Physical Therapy Brochure with instructions on to how to perform exercises at home. Home physical exercises started five days after surgery and continued for two months. The Autonomous group received a pre-surgery instruction session; the Physio group attended four once-weekly therapist-guided physiotherapy sessions. Two months after surgery, arm mobility and pain had recovered to pre-operative levels. Most endpoints, including the main composite, did not differ between groups. Although longer-follow-up is necessary, early physiotherapy seems to be effective in maintaining arm mobility and reducing pain, even in patients empowered to do exercises autonomously.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Service, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baggi
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Service, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Service, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonacossa
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Service, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sandrin
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Massaro
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tradati
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Service, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Simoncini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012648:Self Care; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Neck dissection; Physiotherapy; Rehabilitation