title: Systematic Review of Occupational Therapy and Adult Cancer Rehabilitation: Part 1. Impact of Physical Activity and Symptom Management Interventions.
abstract: This article is the first part of a systematic review of evidence for the effectiveness of cancer rehabilitation interventions within the scope of occupational therapy that address the activity and participation needs of adult cancer survivors. This article focuses on the importance of physical activity and symptom management. Strong evidence supports the use of exercise for cancer-related fatigue and indicates that lymphedema is not exacerbated by exercise. Moderate evidence supports the use of yoga to relieve anxiety and depression and indicates that exercise as a whole may contribute to a return to precancer levels of sexual activity. The results of this review support inclusion of occupational therapy in cancer rehabilitation and reveal a significant need for more research to explore ways occupational therapy can positively influence the outcomes of cancer survivors. Part 2 of the review also appears in this issue.
authors.affiliation: Elizabeth G. Hunter, PhD, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor, Graduate Center for Gerontology, University of Kentucky, Lexington; eghunt2@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: Robert W. Gibson, PhD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Professor and Director of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Marian Arbesman, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Consultant, Evidence-Based Practice Project, American Occupational Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD; President, ArbesIdeas, Inc., Williamsville, NY; and Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arbesman
authors.affiliation: Mariana D'Amico, EdD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, is Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Amico
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015013:Yoga