The Importance of Physiotherapy in Palliative Care: A Literature Review

Uma Revisão de Literatura

Abstract

Introduction: With the increase in population aging, pandemics and life-threatening diseases, palliative care has become increasingly evident, having great importance in society. Bringing a better quality of life to their patients and helping their families, also reflecting better on grief. The World Health Organization conceptualizes patient care in the face of a life-threatening disease, when the control of pain and other symptoms such as psychological, social and spiritual has more priority and the objective is to achieve a better quality of life for patients . Objective: to highlight and raise the discussion of physical therapy in palliative care currently, the treatments that are used, its importance, addressing the view of patients and physical therapists working in palliative care. Methods/Results: This is a literature review on the importance of physical therapy in palliative care, using the Scielo, Pubmed and Lilacs databases, from 2011 to 2021. Seven articles were found reporting the experience of patients in palliative care and also treatments performed by physiotherapists. Conclusion: Publications on palliative care have multiplied in recent years, being discussed even more during the 2019 coronavirus pandemic, where physical therapy proved to be essential for these patients, together with a multidisciplinary team. However, the need for more articles highlighting its importance is still notable, breaking the taboo on palliative patients and grief.