The integration of new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) is drastically changing the practice of physiotherapy in oncology. Innovations are improving the evaluation, treatment design and delivery of rehabilitation therapies for cancer patients. There is increased demand for cancer survivor physiotherapy services to help cope with cancer-related fatigue, pain, lymphedema and reduced mobility. This chapter analyzes recent advances in physiotherapy oncology such as robotics, AI-assisted clinical decision-making systems, tele-rehabilitation, wearable devices and virtual reality (VR) technologies. It explains how these innovations are facilitating remote, real-time feedback, personalized exercise routines and better overall functional outcomes among patients, medication adherence and quality of life. AI enables predictive modeling to refine recovery rehabilitation plans by individual patient data and identified trajectories. Continuous education and engagement for self-management and long-term well-being are provided through virtual health assistants and chatbots. Alongside these changes, this chapter considers the practical and ethical aspects of data privacy, algorithmic bias, advanced digital training for clinicians and the educational needs for physiotherapists related to these technologies. Also discussed are barriers to adequate access, price and infrastructure. This review highlights the necessity of an integrated and patient-centered approach in advancing the domain of oncology physiotherapy by using technology through multidisciplinary collaboration, epitomized in the research and clinical goals provided. The number of individuals surviving cancer is increasing throughout the globe which has shifted care focus toward rehabilitation and follow-up care. Physiotherapy in oncology is concerned with managing cancer-related limitations in functions and activities as well as with enhancing life quality (Rathore et al. 2025). Furthermore, traditional approaches to physiotherapy are being supplemented by new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), improving how care is tailored, delivered and made available to the patient. This chapter aims to discuss how new technologies and AI are transforming physiotherapy in oncology toward a more automated and tailored approach, focusing on rehabilitation outcomes. Cancer patients deal with a variety of impairments which may include, but are not limited to fatigue, decreased mobility, balance problems and muscle weakness, as well as joint stiffness, neuropathy and lymphedema (Tsuji 2022). These factors can hinder accomplishing everyday activities, heighten the chances of additional health problems, and reduce social engagement and overall independence. Physiotherapy seeks to alleviate these conditions through evidence-based practices, including therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, balance retraining and patient education. Traditionally, these interventions have been provided in person. The wide range of digital health technologies and the application of AI is shifting the mode of delivery, monitoring and customization of physiotherapy services (Morrison et al. 2024). New developments including, but not limited to robotics, AI software, rehabilitation tools and wearable sensors, plus VR and AR are enabling physiotherapists to provide tailored treatment. The described technologies allow for instant monitoring, objective functional assessment quantification, remote consultations and intervention services, leading to greater availability of physiotherapy to patients from different geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds (Chaughule and Bhonde 2025). The most advanced AI technologies such as machine learning (ML) and natural language processing can significantly optimize rehabilitation strategy development. They have the capacity to manage large amounts of data to determine patient prognoses, formulate best intervention plans and offer immediate feedback to healthcare professionals and patients. With the integration of AI into physiotherapy, clinicians are able to work toward precision rehabilitation – algorithmically adjusted therapy programs that require less active management as they automatically alter based on monitoring of the patient’s progress as well as needs throughout treatment (Mikołajewska et al. 2025). The primary focus of this chapter is the innovations in technology and AI that are advancing physiotherapy for oncology patients. It will focus on the degree to which these innovations are used in the clinic, their advantages, barriers and clinical usefulness. We will also highlight the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration and addresses ethical considerations, training policies, and advocacy frameworks, alongside emerging technologies, as essential for their thoughtful and effective integration. In summary, this chapter argues that there is a need for comprehensive, strategically designed and actively problem-solving frameworks for planning rehabilitation services in the field of oncology, which serve the intricate challenges posed by cancer survivors in contemporary society. Activity trackers, smartwatches, biosensors and smart textiles represent new innovations in technology that aid physiotherapists in tracking and helping cancer patients throughout their rehabilitation journey (Pathak et al. 2025). Such technologies enable continuous and real-time tracking of mobility, heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep quality, levels of physical activity and in some cases, even posture and energy expenditure. For oncology patients, such monitoring is extremely important due to the multifaceted nature of treatment side effects; fatigue, cardiotoxicity, neuropathy and musculoskeletal deconditioning are highly variable. Advanced wearables can alert physiotherapists to early signs of functional decline, enabling timely intervention and modification to rehabilitation plans (Aziz et al. 2024). For example, accelerometers embedded in wristbands or ankle monitors can track changes in gait and balance, which can help avert falls and other complications. Some devices have also incorporated GPS, which enables clinicians to monitor activity level and participation in the community outside of clinical settings; both are crucial to recovery and to our sense of independence. Wearables can improve a patient’s involvement by offering real-time feedback or goal-setting via mobile apps. Such tools can empower cancer survivors to follow prescribed exercise plans and self-track their progress, thereby promoting active engagement in their healthcare (Johnston 2023). In research, collected data from wearable technologies are increasingly being used for validating outcome measures and assessing the efficacy of particular physiotherapy intervention to outcomes measured with these devices. The application of wearable gadgets in oncology physiotherapy also develops new models of remote care, which is particularly useful to patients with geographical, financial or immunological access limitations. They are vital for tele-rehabilitation programs as they facilitate data exchange between the patients and the care team (Afridi and Khan 2024). With growing accuracy, battery life and miniaturization of wearable technology, their contribution toward personalizing and optimizing cancer rehabilitation will increase tremendously. Tele-rehabilitation is the application of video conferencing, mobile apps and other communication technologies for physiotherapy service delivery to cancer patients beyond the walls of the clinic (Goncalves Leite Rocco et al. 2024). This mode of care has surged in popularity as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic because it showcased the need and effectiveness of remote care. Tele-rehabilitation is ideal for oncology patients because most are immunocompromised and at a greater risk of infections compared to healthy people, making the convenience and safety of remote access extremely beneficial (Danandeh and Rezaei 2024). The deficits in rehabilitation access because of an inadequate number of specialists are profound for cancer patients living in remote areas, making tele-rehabilitation indispensable for these patients (Oshomoji et al. 2024). Using secure video platforms, physiotherapists can provide direct supervision, analyze and evaluate the patient’s movements, correct them and give individualized exercise plans tailored specifically to the patient’s condition. This is made even easier through mobile applications that provide instructional videos for exercises, schedule reminders, allow progress tracking and symptom reporting (Park et al. 2019). These capabilities help sustain motivation to attend rehabilitation sessions, which is the most significant predictor of improving a patient’s outcome after cancer treatment. Continuity of care during and after cancer treatment is also aided by tele-rehabilitation. Patients who are receiving chemotherapy, radiation or surgery often face logistical as well as physical difficulties, and travel to therapy centers is quite frequent. Patients seamlessly integrate ongoing rehabilitation into their daily life (Alagappan et al. 2024). Remote physiotherapy helps ease the burden. This seamless ongoing rehabilitation is further aided by wearable devices and sensor-based technologies, allowing for a constant clinician feedback on patient performance and timely therapy plan adjustments. Studies have found that tele-rehabilitation is just as effective as face-to-face physiotherapy in terms of reducing pain, aiding recovery and improving the patient’s overall quality of life. Nonetheless, it requires optimal digital resources, including literacy regarding the technology on the part of patients and providers, and specific guidelines for clinical safety and effectiveness. As more people gain access to advanced technologies, tele-rehabilitation is anticipated to become a primary means of delivering physiotherapy to cancer patients in diverse healthcare settings (Krishnan 2021). Both virtual and augmented realities have begun to redefine physiotherapy practices for oncology patients by providing inclusive, three-dimensional, interactive environments which help enhance rehabilitation results (Iqbal et al. 2024). Virtual reality (VR) systems place participants in realistic, simulated, three-dimensional environments in which they perform exercises for various rehabilitation purposes, such as improving strength, coordination, balance and functional mobility. In contrast, augmented reality (AR) adds virtual components to a real-life environment, meaning patients can receive guidance and feedback while undertaking real-world physical activities and keeping track of their environment (Singh and Singh 2024). This technology is particularly advantageous for cancer survivors with cognitive or physical deficits such as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, fatigue or musculoskeletal restrictions. VR-based interventions can replicate functional activities such as strolling through a park or reaching for specific items, aiding in the retraining of motor skills and improvement of neuroplasticity. Furthermore, AR applications can assist with gait training, posture correction and other exercises performed at home by providing visual information and cues which direct movement (Drigas and Sideraki 2024). Patient engagement is enhanced through gamified elements available in VR/AR systems as they provide chances for playing and problem-solving while completing preset objectives/tasks. This shift in focus increases motivation, reduces perception of work and even leads to participation consistency. It is advantageous in rehabilitation settings where patients struggle with long-term physiotherapy adherence (Burke et al. 2024). It has been proven that patients suffering from cancer can experience improvement in pain control, enhancement of balance and coordination, decrease in anxiety and general well-being with application of VR and AR (Sharma et al. 2024). These systems can also be used without face-to-face interaction with the patient and incorporated into tele-rehabilitation, enabling guided sessions through VR. Physiotherapists have the ability to control parameters such as angle of movement, reaction speed and precise movement to provide reasonable alteration to the therapy plan. We expect that the use of VR and AR technologies in standard physiotherapy practices for cancer survivors will increase significantly in the future as these technologies become more inexpensive and easier to access. More research and development are needed to strengthen the existing evidence, optimize protocols for different types and stages of cancer, and make these systems usable by many patients (Elkefi and Choudhury 2025). Robotics and assistive devices are changing the face of rehabilitation in oncology physiotherapy, especially for patients suffering severe functional limitations due to cancer treatments such as surgery, chemo or radiation. Examples of these technologies include robotic exoskeletons, motorized orthoses and intelligent assistive devices that support movement, guidance and amplification to help the patient recover and become independent (Krishna et al. 2024). Robotic exoskeletons, or robotic limb-assistive devices, help patients with upper and lower limb hyper- or hypomobility by performing repetitive movements with precision. Such patients benefit from intensive and repetitive task-oriented practice to help restore neuromuscular coordination, muscle power and promote neural pathways, particularly in patients with hemiplegia to gain strength or muscular atrophy associated with cancerous conditions such as spinal cord tumors, peripheral neuropathies or postoperative immobilization. Take, for example, breast cancer survivors who have mastectomies performed; they can postoperatively have upper limb robots for shoulder and arm rehabilitation to assist in regaining motion and functional use (Chen et al. 2024). Movement analysis such as measuring the range of motion of limbs, speed of movement or power output is measurable quantitatively, thus providing objective benchmarks of progress. Robotics are programmable to change levels of movement and resistance to suit the individual patient’s capabilities and goals. These are thus essential in the provision of proper therapy (Pannu et al. 2025). With the increase of robotic systems designed for rehabilitation, many of them include elements of games and competition which enhances patient involvement, crucial for overall commitment. Smart walkers, adaptive seats and mobility devices with built-in sensors are all self-sufficient equipment that promote safety and enhance patient autonomy. These tools help in accomplishing tasks related to personal care and cancer patients to actively and socially engage with their environment (Rijpkema et al. 2018). Other devices provide biofeedback capabilities, warning patients and healthcare providers of precarious positions or movement patterns.
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Future Directions in Oncology: Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in Physiotherapy
7.1. Introduction
7.2. Emerging technologies in oncology physiotherapy
7.2.1. Wearable devices
7.2.2. Tele-rehabilitation
7.2.3. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)
7.2.4. Robotics and assistive technologies
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AI and Wearable Technology in Physiotherapy for Oncology Patients
Smart Robotics in Physiotherapy and Oncology: Redefining Patient Outcomes
Recurrent Neural Networks for Predictive Modeling in Cancer Time Series Data
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