At Memorial Sloan Kettering, physical and occupational therapists play an important role in addressing the special needs of children with cancer. Our goal is to decrease the burden of cancer and its treatment on children and their families and to improve the quality of life of both children and their families throughout treatment, recuperation, and their life after cancer. Our therapists work closely with the medical team and the child's family to address both the child's and family's concerns regarding physical development.
Physical therapists here educate children and their families about safe and effective exercises, sensory stimulation, positioning, environmental modification, orthotics, or assistive technologies to improve function. Our occupational therapists evaluate and treat both pediatric and adolescent patients with cancer, and encourage patients' physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and self-care development through therapeutic play activities.
We advise patients and families on issues such as the best positioning for children at rest and during feeding and can instruct caregivers in the use of infant massage. Patients with retinoblastoma may have residual visual deficits; our occupational therapists can assess patients for these visual changes and teach them compensatory techniques.
