Abstract

Background. Patients after total laryngectomy are usualy less physically active than other groups of patients treated for cancer. The limitation of physical activity after laryngectomy is the result of the inability to control the sensation of apparent dyspnoea and inability to communicate by means of articulate speech, fear of recurrence and of not being accepted by the family or other relations. Early rehabilitation is very important after surgery for cancer, especially when the treatment cripples the patient. Laryngectomy leads to severe disability, depriving the patients of their speech organ, and is associated with various functional postoperative complications. Material and methods. A total of 30 radical laryngectomy patients (4 women and 26 men) aged 48-74 years (mean 61 years) were enrolled for a rehabilitation programme. During the rehabilitation programme, patients were subjected to the Harvard Step Test modified by Szyszko-Wydra. Results. After the rehabilitation treatment, patients in all age groups demonstrated improvement in physical fitness (see figure in text). The level of physical capacity before the treatment was very low, improving to average or good as a result of rehabilitation. Conclusions. The results of the study show that the rehabilitation programme was instrumental in effecting a significant improvement of the patients’ overall physical capacity. Group rehabilitation of patients suffering from the same condition increases the likelihood of achieving a higher level of physical capacity. This is attributable to the positive effect of the daily exercises, especially respiratory exercises to strengthen the diaphragm, which are helpful in making sonorous burps and learning oesophageal speech. Exercise also helps to eliminate the feeling of embarrassment and promotes full acceptance and emotional support within the group.

Key words:

rehabilitation, laryngectomy, evaluation of physical fitness