Efectos de la intervención fisioterapéutica en la calidad de vida y el control de síntomas de los pacientes con cáncer avanzado en cuidados paliativos. Una revisión sistemática

Introduction: Patients with advanced cancer have a significant loss of functionality, caused by treatment and progression of pathology; in many cases aggravated by prolonged immobilization, which has a significant impact on their quality of life. Due to functional alterations and the trend in the integral treatment of the cancer patient, the role of the physiotherapist has expanded and diversified within the interdisciplinary care team. The objective of the present study is to identify the effects of physical intervention on quality of life and symptom control of cancer patients in palliative care. Material and method: A systematic review was carried out, which consulted the databases The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial (CENTRAL), MEDLINE PubMed, EMBASE, PubMed, Lilacs, and PsycINFO. For prospective and ongoing trials, the WHO International Clinical Trial Registration Platform (ICTRP) search portal, the National Institute of Health clinical trials database, and the International Register of Controlled Trials were reviewed. The search was carried out between 2009 and 2019, considering four types of study design: controlled clinical trials, uncontrolled clinical trials, pre-post interventions, and cohorts. 2148 articles were founded. Results: Five articles met the inclusion criteria; men and women between 35 and 80 years of age, with advanced cancer, in palliative care treatment, intervened by physiotherapy, performed a physiotherapeutic intervention, physiotherapy intervention was compared with basic care or non-intervention, and validated scales were used for quality of life measurement and symptom control. Conclusions: Although changes in the symptomatology and quality of life of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care have been shown, it is uncertain to determine the effectiveness of Physiotherapeutic intervention in that population. Mainly because few studies were identified in the subject, finding low quality of evidence.