Rehabilitation in the Older Adult with Cancer
Rehabilitation in the Older Adult with Cancer
This course includes
The instructors
Overview
Rehabilitation in the Older Adult with Cancer is an evidence-based online course designed to help physiotherapists confidently assess and treat older adults living with cancer. As cancer survival rates increase, therapists are encountering a growing number of clients experiencing disability, side effects, and functional decline related to both the disease and its treatments.
This online course provides practical guidance on oncology assessment, exercise prescription, safety precautions, and individualized rehabilitation planning to improve quality of life and functional outcomes for this population.
Embodia
Why This Course Matters
Cancer rehabilitation is an evolving area of physiotherapy practice. Older adults with cancer are at increased risk for functional decline due to the combined effects of aging, cancer pathology, and medical treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Without targeted rehabilitation, these factors can significantly impact independence, mobility, and quality of life.
Physiotherapists play a key role in identifying functional impairments, managing risk, and prescribing appropriate exercise and movement-based interventions. This course supports clinicians in applying current evidence to real-world practice, helping ensure rehabilitation approaches are both safe and effective for older adults with cancer.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the most relevant cancers in older adults and how treatments affect function
- Perform safe and effective oncology assessments
- Prescribe targeted exercise techniques and parameters for clients with cancer
- Create individualized rehabilitation plans that align with client goals and abilities
Audience
This course is ideal for:
- Physiotherapists and clinicians treating older adults
- Rehab professionals working with cancer survivors
- Healthcare providers seeking evidence-based oncology rehab strategies
- Those in outpatient, home-care, acute, or private practice settings
The instructors
B.Kin, B.H.Sc (PT)
Jodi earned her kinesiology degree in 1997 and a physiotherapy degree in 1999 from McMaster University. In 2005, she founded Cancer Rehab Inc., a not-for-profit centre aimed at improving the lives of those living with cancer. Jodi recognized that individuals undergoing cancer treatments experience side effects such as lymphedema, fatigue, mobility issues and depression. Until 2009, the clinic provided exercise-based rehabilitation services that were previously unavailable in Canada.
In 2009, Jodi designed, developed and launched Wellspring’s Cancer Exercise Program. Wellspring’s program, similar to what was offered at Cancer Rehab Inc., is now accessed throughout southern Ontario at five locations. She continues to work with Wellspring Niagara as a program leader for in-person and online exercise classes. Jodi is also a professor at Niagara College, teaching in multiple programs: Fitness, PSW, OT/PT Assistant, Massage Therapy, and International Nursing.
Jodi first taught Rehab Techniques in Oncology in 2007, and in 2017, she began offering additional professional education courses online through Embodia, a digital healthcare platform.
Material included in this course
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Introduction
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Welcome!
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Stages and Grades
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Quiz
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Feedback
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Treatments
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Surgery
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Chemotherapy
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Radiation
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Hormone Therapy
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Quiz
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Feedback
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Considerations for Different Cancers
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Cancer Types and Performance Indicators
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Breast Cancer - Overview
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Breast Cancer - Treatment
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Prostate Cancer
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Colorectal Cancer
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Lung Cancer
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Melanomas
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Exercise Prescription
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Case Studies
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Quiz
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What's Next?
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Feedback
Patient exercises included in this course
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Lower Extremity Lymphedema Dance
This course has exercises. Can I prescribe them to my patients?
Yes, exercises included in courses or resource packages on Embodia can be prescribed directly through the Embodia platform. A Tier 2 or 3 Membership is required to prescribe exercises. These memberships include a range of other features. You can learn about home exercise programs (HEP) on Embodia here, and about memberships on Embodia here.