Antea Worldwide Palliative Care Conference

Rome, 12-14 November 2008

ABSTRACT FORM

Presenting author PALLIATIVE CARE AND PHYSIOTHERAPIST RULE

Mario Montermini
Email:
segreteria.csf@vidas.it
Phone
Mobile phone
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abstract
• Pain and other symptoms
• Palliative care for cancer patients
• Palliative care for non cancer
patients
• Paediatric palliative care
• Palliative care for the elderly
• The actors of palliative care
• Latest on drugs
• Pain
Authors (max 6, presenting author included): Mario Montermini
In palliative care relational approach and counselling are essential for the physiotherapist and the
times and ways of the technique must be modulated according to the patient’s needs, therefore the
physiotherapeutic intervention will exploit these three patterns.
Rehabilitative approach: it’s possible to maximize the functional potential of the patient so as to
improve his/her performance status when there is a clinical stability and a good control of
symptoms. The aim is a satisfying independence at home and outside. The physiotherapist’s
counselling should, also, make him/her admit one’s limits and that the disease cannot be cured
but kept under control. So the patient avoids unnecessary exertion that may lead to a deteriorating
health. This is to minimize patient’s delusion and to build a good therapeutic alliance that will be
of great help during the disease progression.
Reducing disability approach: the intervention offers the patient the possibility to improve his/her
residual physical functioning and to maintain a self-sufficient mobility. When the clinical picture
is not too bad, the symptoms are under control and the life expectancy is medium-term
(weeks/months) the physiotherapist helps to regain some independence, if necessary with walking
aids, therefore reducing fear and anxiety, to eliminate architectural obstacles and teaches the
carers how to support mobility in a safe and not exhausting way.
Palliative approach: it isn’t possible any motor activity aiming at recovering the patient’s
independence, even if incomplete. The poor clinical picture, a low symptom control and a short
life expectancy (days/weeks) allow to work only on positioning, postural changes and joint
mobilization. Anyhow the physiotherapist welcomes the desire of motor activity/ independence of
patient and carers and educates the care giver how to help and how to avoid dangerous actions,
but improves their ability to put back into perspective their hopes with the counselling.

• Illness and suffering through

media
• Marginalisation and social stigma
at the end of life
• Palliative care advocacy projects

• Prognosis and diagnosis

communication in
different cultures
• Communication between doctor-
patient and patient-
equipe
• Religions and cultures versus
suffering, death and
bereavement
• Public institution in the world:
palliative care policies
and law
• Palliative care: from villages to metropolies

• Space, light and gardens for the

terminally ill patient Session: Rehabilitation in palliative care
• End-of-life ethics
• Complementary therapies Chair of the session: Claudio Pellegrini

• Education, training and research

• Fund-raising and no-profit
• Bereavement support
• Volunteering in palliative care
• Rehabilitation in palliative care