RATIONALE: Early physical therapy may be effective in improving range of motion of the neck and shoulders in head and neck cancer survivors who are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying how well early physical therapy works in improving physical and functional well-being in head and neck cancer survivors receiving chemoradiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES:

• Describe the physical and functional well-being of head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors undergoing physical therapy during adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
• Describe clinical measure of range of motion for the cervical spine and shoulder of HNC survivors undergoing physical therapy during adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
• Determine the feasibility of an early physical therapy intervention (prior to and during adjuvant treatment) targeting the physical needs of HNC survivors.

OUTLINE: Patients undergo physical therapy weekly for 10 weeks beginning 1 week prior to initiating adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and continuing until 2 weeks after the completion of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Patients undergo range of motion assessment and complete a Cancer Survivorship Survey (CSS) at baseline and in weeks 4, 8, 9, and 10 of physical therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Head and neck cancer survivor

• Planning to receive adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer

  • Has not yet initiated adjuvant therapy

• Referred to rehabilitation oncology physical therapy program

Exclusion Criteria:

• No metastatic disease
• No CNS cancer

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Speaks English
• No significant history of cardiovascular or neurovascular disease involving disability

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Not currently in hospice care

Head and Neck Cancer Patients