Neuro-Oncology Rehabilitation Strategies
Summary
Neuro-oncology rehabilitation encompasses an integrated set of interventions designed to restore or maintain physical, cognitive and psychosocial function in patients with primary or secondary brain tumours. Central to this approach is an interdisciplinary team comprising physiotherapists, occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, speech and language therapists and nursing staff. Physical exercise—ranging from aerobic and resistance training to balance and gait re-education—aims to counteract tumour- and treatment-related fatigue, motor weakness and coordination deficits. Cognitive rehabilitation employs targeted exercises and compensatory strategies to address attention, memory and executive dysfunction. Mind-body therapies such as mindfulness, relaxation and yoga support mood regulation and reduce anxiety. Rehabilitation is tailored to each patient’s tumour type, treatment phase and functional status, with timing and intensity optimised to align with surgical recovery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy schedules. Standardised outcome measures, including activities of daily living (ADL) scales and performance indices, inform goal setting and track progress. Tele-rehabilitation and virtual reality platforms are emerging as viable solutions to extend access and maintain continuity of care. Globally, the growing incidence of brain tumours and the imperative to preserve quality of life have driven efforts to develop evidence-based clinical guidelines and to integrate rehabilitation into standard neuro-oncology pathways.
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Neuro-Oncology Rehabilitation Strategies publication trend
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Technical terms
Activities of Daily Living (ADL): Standardised tasks measuring a patient’s ability to perform self-care activities such as dressing, bathing and ambulation.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy: A structured psychological approach that modifies unhelpful thoughts and behaviours to improve emotional and cognitive wellbeing.
Functional Independence Measure (FIM): An 18-item scale assessing physical and cognitive disability, commonly used to quantify rehabilitation progress.
Glioblastoma: The most aggressive form of primary brain tumour, characterised by rapid growth and infiltration into surrounding brain tissue.
Mind-body interventions: Techniques such as meditation, yoga and relaxation exercises that aim to enhance the interaction between mental and physical health.
References
- Rehabilitation in People Living with Glioblastoma: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Cancers (2024).
- Landscape and impact of mind-body, cognitive-behavioral, and physical activity interventions in adolescent and adult brain tumor patients: A systematic review. Neuro-Oncology Advances (2024).
- Factors Influencing the Improvement of Activities of Daily Living during Inpatient Rehabilitation in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2022).
- Rehabilitation of Adult Patients with Primary Brain Tumors: A Narrative Review. Brain Sciences (2020).
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