Brace Clinic Helps Keep Cancer Patients on the Move

When cancer is in the spine, it can make walking difficult, painful and unsafe — and drastically reduce a patient’s participation in normal activities. Physiatrists at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute have opened an on-site Brace Clinic, where patients can be evaluated and fitted for bracing and orthotics for the spine as well as the limbs, head and neck to improve mobility, and to reduce pain in addition to lessening the chance of falls, fractures and other complications.

“We really work with our patients to help them meet their goals, whether that’s to play golf again or just one more time, to be able to travel to see their grandchildren or to help them feel comfortable walking and moving,” says Romer Orada, D.O., the physical medicine and rehabilitation physician who leads the Brace Clinic, which is part of the Institute’s Cancer Patient Support Center. “I focus on a patient’s physical function, and for many, a brace can make a significant difference.”

Dr. Orada and his team have been evaluating and recommending cancer patients for bracing for some time, but recently brought certified orthotists and prosthetists on-site. These are specialists who design, fit and fabricate medical devices including braces and artificial limbs to help patients regain mobility and function.

“There aren’t many cancer programs that offer on-site brace clinics. It’s an important service because our patients can be very sick, and the sooner we see them, the better to prevent complications. But we understand that the last thing our patients want to do is make another appointment and travel off-campus. It’s a barrier to care. Easy access is crucial,” Dr. Orada says.

Addressing Cancer Patients' Physical, Emotional, Social and Spiritual Needs

The Brace Clinic is part of the Institute’s Cancer Patient Support Center, which addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients with services such as mindfulness meditation training, acupuncture, massage, support groups and individualized exercise and nutrition programs.

Brain tumors and spinal cord cancers can be the cause of spinal stability problems, as can bone metastases most commonly from cancers of the breast, prostate and lung. The bones can weaken, which can lead to fractures and spinal cord or spinal nerve root compression. Sometimes, treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy can damage nerves or muscles.

“Often, I see patients with what’s known as foot drop. They experience a weakness in the foot that makes it hard for them to lift their foot normally as they walk. A brace can help prevent falls,” Dr. Orada says.

Providing greater stability with a brace can make it possible for patients to enjoy activities they stopped due to illness and enable them to take part in physical therapy. There are other benefits as well. In a study published recently in Blood, a journal of the American Society of Hematology, the majority of patients with multiple myeloma who received spinal bracing also experienced new bone formation.

“Sometimes after receiving a diagnosis of cancer, patients are also advised not to move anymore because of the risk of fractures or spinal injuries,” Dr. Orada says. “Or a patient already has several compression fractures and is told they are not a candidate for surgery and nothing can be done. Safety is always the priority, but I never say never in the Clinic; I say let’s try. By having a brace that fits correctly and wearing it properly, many patients are able to return to a more active lifestyle.

Romer Orada, D.O., a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician who leads the Brace Clinic, part of Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute's Cancer Patient Support Center

Dr. Orada and his team see adult and pediatric patients. For information on patient support services offered at Miami Cancer Institute, click here.