About the chair
Cancer is becoming more common, but fortunately it is less often a death sentence. This positive development increases the attention paid to the quality of life of the growing group of chronic patients. The chair Andullation Care Research, established in 2018, focuses on research into improving the quality of life of cancer patients.
Our society struggles with the lack of options for the care and follow-up of patients with long-term and late-stage effects of cancer. Together with partner Home Health Products, Prof. Dr. Nele Adriaenssens and her team are looking at how andullation technology can alleviate or even avoid common complications of cancer treatments (such as pain, stress, insomnia, and lymphoedema).
The chair is part of the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy.
Fast forward to:
Andullation therapy
Andullation is a new biophysical therapy that combines fixed patterns of mechanical vibration with randomly changing frequency and amplitude (stochastic frequency and amplitude modulation), often applied together with infrared heat.
Patients must lie on a specially designed device so that the vibrations can penetrate deep into the body. Previous scientific studies have shown that this therapy successfully combats pain and has a positive effect on health. A study that was conducted at VUB and was awarded the Isidor Caplan prize also showed that andullation significantly stimulates blood circulation and lymph flow.
"The side effects of cancer (treatments), such as lymphoedema, in many cases require lifelong (follow-up) treatment. This is not only a hardship for patients who are constantly reminded of a difficult period. It also costs our healthcare system tremendous amounts of money. Andullation therapy may therefore offer a way out of this predicament. Within the chair, we therefore investigate how andullation fits within cancer treatment."
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Academic chair details
Faculty: Faculty Physical Education and Physiotherapy
Type of chair: Innovation
Foundation year: 2018