Did you know, people with cancer are recommended to do the same amount of exercise as those without?

Exercise has been shown to be safe and improve health outcomes for people with cancer.

The guidelines recommend that health professionals such as physiotherapists design and deliver bespoke exercise programs for people living with and beyond cancer to support their recovery and ability to deal with the debilitating side effects of cancer treatment.

The evidence based guidance suggests that prescribed exercise that best meets the needs, preferences and abilities of the individual will improve physical function, fatigue, anxiety, depression and quality of life of cancer sufferers. Importantly, exercise has been shown not to exacerbate lymphoedema symptoms – an important factor for the almost 20,000 Australians¹ diagnosed with breast cancer each year, of whom one in five will develop lymphoedema². 

APA chair of cancer, lymphoedema and palliative care group, Dr Elise Gane, says that physiotherapists working with patients with a cancer diagnosis are highly experienced in designing and managing tailored exercise programs. “We’ve always known that exercise is important, but the growing evidence base for the benefits of participation in moderate intensity aerobic exercise and resistance training for better outcomes is spurring us to find new ways to motivate and support our patients with programs that best fit their needs.”

The new ACSM guidance includes:

• Exercise lowers the risk of seven types of cancer: colon, breast, endometrial, kidney, bladder, oesophagus and stomach
• For cancer survivors, exercise improves survival after diagnosis for breast, colon and prostate cancer
• Exercise during and after cancer treatment improves quality of life
• Recommendation includes moderate intensity aerobic training at least three times per week for a minimum 30 minutes; plus resistance training at least twice a week.

Source link - Australian Physiotherapist Association

One of the most challenging aspects of living with an injury or chronic pain is how it can quickly impact your exercise routine. If you have been working towards a fitness or weight goal, this can be
extremely demoralizing. Here are a few tips that can help to keep you on track while you recover. Staying as active as possible during this time can mean you’re in the best position to reach your goals again
once your injury has healed.

1. Try a new activity.

When injury strikes, it can be tempting to stop exercising altogether and rest while you recover. An injury can be frustrating, but it can also be an opportunity to try out a different sport.
If you’re a runner with an ankle injury, you can keep up your fitness by swimming instead. Cycling can be an excellent option for people for dealing with knee pain, and if you’re a swimmer with shoulder pain, maybe
switch to running for a while. Check with your physiotherapist for some ideas to keep you moving.

2. Exercise within your limits.

If you’re getting pain at 5km, this doesn’t always mean you should give up running altogether. Your physiotherapist can help you monitor your symptoms carefully and plan an exercise routine that keeps your
fitness up while reducing symptom flare-ups. Staying as active as possible throughout your recovery can also mean that you a better placed to get back to your best performance.

3. Take the opportunity to improve your footwear and equipment.

Injury and pain can be a great prompt to look at your equipment and technique. For example, with hip and knee pain, the type of shoes you wear can have a significant difference.
Often pain has more than once cause, with technique and equipment more often than not having a substantial impact on the stress placed on your body. Your physiotherapist is an
excellent source of advice in this area, don’t hesitate to ask for an assessment.

4. Take to the water.

Hydrotherapy has long been used to help patients with joint pain or muscle weakness exercise. The water helps reduce joint stress and provide extra sensory input that can reduce pain.
Exercising in water can be especially helpful for sufferers of chronic pain or those who have pain with weightbearing. Speak to your physio for a hydrotherapy program if you’re not
sure how to approach exercise in water. Our physiotherapists are happy to discuss your condition with you and share their tips to help you stay pain-free.

Physiotherapy treatment can be life changing, helping you recover from traumatic injuries, chronic pain and get you on the road to your best performance levels. Here are a few tips to make sure you get the most out of your physiotherapy treatment. 

1. Ask your therapist questions about your injury

Understanding your condition and how to best manage it is one of the most important factors for a successful recovery. Effective therapists allow time for you to ask questions in a non-judgmental environment. There are no stupid questions, if you don’t understand what is happening in your own body it is harder to follow advice and stick to protocols. This can also help you to cope with pain and feel less helpless in your recovery. 

2.  Follow your therapist’s advice and do your exercises

Home exercises are a key part of your recovery, especially when treatment times are limited. Try to stick to your exercise program as seriously as you would a medicine schedule. It is also important to ensure that you are doing your exercises correctly at home. Don’t be afraid to double and triple check your technique before leaving your appointment.

Your therapist will also provide you with advice regarding activities to avoid, how to stretch, when to rest and how to avoid further injury. If you’re not sure about something, ask your therapist to write it down for you. 

3.  Notice your improvements

Nothing can be more disheartening than feeling like the appointments and exercises you’re dilliegently attending to are making no difference. As thereapists, we make regular measurements to track your improvement and know that while  your symptoms might  be staying constant, you are  actually moving more and increasing stress on your body as you recover. Set your own measurements to help you track your recovery. This can help you stick to treatment and feel more positive as you complete your recovery journey. 

4. Set goals and work with your physio to meet these.

The goals of recovery are different for everyone. Some of us want to be able to reach peak performance, such as running a marathon. For others, just getting through the day with a little less pain would be a huge success. Know your own goals and take the time to discuss this with your therapist, who will guide your treatment to help you meet these milestones. 

Our physiotherapists are happy to discuss your condition with you and share their tips to help you stay pain-free.