Management of neck and shoulder dysfunction in head and neck cancer

Welcome to this course on the management of neck and shoulder dysfunction in patients who have had a head and neck cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. 

In the UK, head and neck cancers are a significant health burden and their rates are rising. The aim of this module is to equip you with specialist background knowledge and foundational treatment principles so you can support and effectively treat patients who are recovering from head and neck cancer treatment.

By the end of this module, you should be able to:
  • describe what head and neck cancer is 
  • recall the healthy anatomy of the neck and shoulder
  • summarise the epidemiology of head and neck cancer in the UK
  • explain why and how neck dissection surgeries are performed
  • outline the process of diagnosis and treatment for patients with head and neck cancer
  • identify ways in which physiotherapists can assist in the management of neck and shoulder dysfunction.
This module will take around 3 hours to complete.