K Ankitha Nayak

About

K Ankitha Nayak is a physiotherapist who specialises in oncology rehabilitation, helping people rebuild strength, movement, and independence during and after cancer treatment. Her clinical training spans surgical, medical, radiation, paediatric, and palliative oncology, with focused work in post-surgical recovery, radiation-related rehabilitation, and lymphedema care. She works from evidence-based assessment, using functional outcome measures and individualised exercise plans to meet each patient where they are, and to support quality of life alongside their medical treatment. She completed her Bachelor of Physiotherapy as a Gold Medalist and Best Outgoing Student before specialising in oncology at postgraduate level.

Experience

Recently: Ankitha completed advanced oncology clinical training at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, rotating across surgical, medical, radiation, paediatric, and hospice and palliative care. She used evidence-based outcome measures for risk stratification, functional assessment, and individualised exercise prescription, with a particular focus on radiation and surgical rehabilitation and lymphedema care.

Earlier: Ankitha trained as a physiotherapy intern at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, gaining broad clinical exposure across oncology, intensive care, orthopaedics, neurology, cardiopulmonary, paediatrics, gynaecology, geriatrics, and community rehabilitation. She designed customised rehabilitation plans combining therapeutic exercise and electrotherapy, maintained precise clinical documentation, and worked alongside multidisciplinary teams while supporting patient and caregiver education.

Education

Ankitha earned her Bachelor of Physiotherapy from Manipal College of Health Professions, MAHE, Manipal (2019 – 2024), graduating as a Gold Medalist and Best Outgoing Student in recognition of her academic performance, leadership, and professional conduct. She went on to a Master of Physiotherapy in Oncology at the same institution, with a focus on physiotherapy in radiotherapy and surgical oncology. Her research includes a follow-up study on functional recovery in patients with head and neck cancer following neck dissection, and a scoping review of the barriers clinicians perceive when referring patients to exercise-based cancer rehabilitation.