Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy for Functional Sequelae in Adults with Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives: Functional sequelae following head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment frequently impair swallowing, mouth opening, speech, cervical and shoulder mobility, and overall quality of life. Although rehabilitation is increasingly recognized as an essential component of multidisciplinary care, evidence has largely focused on isolated functional impairments rather than providing a comprehensive evaluation across rehabilitation domains. To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation and physiotherapy interventions for preventing and treating functional sequelae in adults with head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and PEDro were searched from inception to June 2026. Studies involving adult patients with head and neck cancer receiving conservative rehabilitation interventions were included. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed for clinically homogeneous intervention contrasts within the mouth-opening and trismus domains. Distinct comparisons involving intervention timing, additional therapeutic components, or delivery strategies were analysed separately.