Â鶹ӳ»­

Cancer and its treatments can sometimes have lasting effects on a patient¡¯s physical and cognitive functions.

To address the needs of patients recovering from surgery or facing challenges related to their treatment, MD Anderson¡¯s Rehabilitation Services team offers a variety of occupational therapy and physical therapy services.

Therapeutic intervention is provided to acute inpatients, acute/chronic outpatients and the inpatient rehabilitation unit. Services are delivered in several locations, including MD Anderson¡¯s regional care centers, with more than half of all inpatients treated at the bedside.

In Fiscal Year 2010, Rehabilitation Services logged 15,524 total inpatient and outpatient visits.

A large facility in the Main Building includes workout equipment, private treatment rooms and a model apartment with a kitchen, laundry room and bathroom for training.

When our photographer stopped by, the clinic was being put to good use:

1. Junichiro Watanabe: A neurofibromatosis patient, ¡°Juni¡± was a martial arts enthusiast and practitioner before his diagnosis. He works with Occupational Therapist Jennifer Hughes and Physical Therapist Andrew Christensen to improve his balance and movement.

2. Parallel bars: Used for gait training, the bars provide support if a patient lacks balance. Colored sponges can be stepped on to challenge balance, and orange cones serve as an obstacle course.

3. Putting green: Among functional activities performed or simulated in the clinic, the putting green allows a golfer to practice while increasing standing endurance, whole body strength, eye-hand coordination and balance.

4. Exercise equipment: A range of equipment includes a Biodex Balance System machine for balance assessment and retraining, NuStep and treadmills for endurance activities, and ergometers for lower and upper extremities endurance.

5. Skeleton: Therapists use the human skeleton model to educate patients on how the disease process may be affecting their bones and joints.

6. Mat: Patients are placed on this platform for exercises that can¡¯t be accomplished while standing. It also is a surface for activities that require sitting balance.

7. Colorful equipment: Large balls help with increased core strength exercises; wedges provide comfort for patients positioned for exercise or to encourage certain movements; target practice helps with eye-hand coordination; and the red round scooter helps pediatric patients with increased trunk extension.