Palliative treatment - still unsolved problem

Abstract

In a modern approach to palliative and hospice care, apart from pharmacological treatment, physio- and kinesiotherapy also play an important role. It affects the reduction of clinical symptoms, accompanying the basic disease and also significantly increase of the quality of life for palliative patients and their families. It becomes an inseparable element of treatment, both in outpatient care as well as in stationary care and home care. Thanks to modern forms of physio- and kinesiotherapy, it is possible to adapt therapeutic methods to the individual needs and clinical condition of the patient. Such individualization of treatment in physiotherapy is the main goal of the above methods in palliative and hospice treatment. Due to the dynamics onset of cancer in the group of geriatric patients there is a need for a broader analysis of the topic. The work presents available information of physiotherapy in palliative and hospice care. The problem of relative and absolute indications and contraindications for physiotherapy was discussed. Based analysis of the above topic can lead to the conclusion that there is a necessity undertaking further research on the impact of rehabilitation treatments on reducing patients complaints and improvement of patients life quality.

Keywords: kinesiotherapy; palliative and hospice care; geriatrics; physiotherapy.