Bridgeview Physiotherapy - Produits, offres, nouvelles

Exercise During Treatment for Breast Cancer

January 27th, 2014

During treatment for breast cancer, whether it is radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery, it is still important to maintain your general health. Numerous research studies show that exercise only benefits you, even during your treatment. Moderate exercise can help you maintain and improve your muscle strength, range of motion, and general fitness of your heart and lungs. It can even give you more energy at a time when you feel that you don’t have much to spare. Exercise can also help you with an improved sense of well-being and positive body image. This is so important at a time when your body is going through so many changes. The idea of an exercise program is to start slowly and monitor the effects. If you exercised before your diagnosis, you can continue to do so, but may need to reduce the intensity or length of time you exercise. If you did not exercise before diagnosis, it is a good idea to consult with your doctor or physiotherapist to determine if you’re able to exercise. The goal is to stay as active as possible during your treatment.

I would like now to discuss what types of exercise you should do during your treatment for breast cancer. Let me caution you by saying you should discuss your exercise plans with your doctor or physiotherapist before you start a program, especially if you have not exercised before.  Usually after your surgery, you are safe to start range of motion exercises within a week or so. Often, you are given a set of range of motion exercises to do several times each day after your surgery. Strengthening is usually safe to start within 4-6 weeks of your surgery. Again, please check with your doctor before starting anything to ensure you are not causing any problems.

All exercise programs should include the following:
• Exercises to improve cardiovascular fitness (walking, running, swimming, biking)
• Exercises to improve flexibility (stretching, yoga, Pilates)
• Exercises to improve strength (lifting weights, Theraband, using your body weight as resistance)
• Exercises to improve posture (maintain good posture while doing other exercises)

It is hard to create an exercise program that is applicable to every person, but here is a general program that can be modified for your particular physical ability and limitations. First, I always get people to do a walking program. What’s easier than walking? It can be modified in so many ways, from just being able to walk around your house to walking outdoors to hiking. If you have balance problems, you may need a walking aid, but you can still walk. Aim for 30 minutes of walking each day, even if you only walk 5 minutes at a time. Pace yourself, start slowly, and build up to your max time. If you are walking outside, take someone with you to enjoy the day (and also to go get the car if you get too tired to get back!), and use the time to connect with a loved one.

Exercises to improve flexibility can include the range of motion exercises that were given to you by your doctor, and if you are more advanced than that, can include Pilates, yoga, and stretching every day at home. Because surgery can cause some tightness, scar tissue, and even cording (pulling sensation down your arm), it’s really important to move that tissue around and get more flexibility into it. Radiation therapy can significantly change the texture and flexibility of your skin and the tissue beneath it, so it’s even more important to maintain and/or improve your flexibility if you are having or had radiation. Studies also show that after breast surgery, as many as 68 percent of women can experience some form of shoulder limitation, no matter what type of cancer treatment they have had. When doing stretching, it’s important to start slow and listen to your body. It will tell you when you’re going too far. You should hold each stretch 5-10 seconds to start, and work up to a 30 second hold  You should aim for 5-10 repetitions of each, 3 times per day.

If you find that you have full range of motion after doing these exercises, the sky’s the limit! Try Pilates, or yoga, or a stability ball to not only help you maintain your range of motion, but also to have fun!

Strengthening comes next.  You can strengthen any number of ways…using hand weights (or soup cans!), gym machines, using your own body weight, and using Theraband (those stretchy bands you see people using at the gym). I love Theraband because you can use it a hundred different ways and can exercise in a functional position (standing or sitting), rather than having to lie down or be in an awkward position. It also lets you strengthen your body in the way YOU move, and doesn’t lock you into a particular position and movement, as the gym machines can do. Finally, it’s lightweight, is available at most physiotherapy clinics and home health care drugstores (Lawtons Drugs, etc.), and is very reasonably priced. You can also throw it in your purse or suitcase for travelling if needed. The following is an example of a program you can do for your shoulders and upper back with Theraband. You can adapt these exercises for weights by changing your position to lift against gravity. Try to do 3 sets of 10 repetitions, 4-5 times per week.

Remember, these exercises are very generalized and not for everyone. You should consult with a physiotherapist to get an individualized program that is just right for you!

Finally, postural awareness during all these exercises is very important. Good posture can actually make you more healthy! It can enable you to breathe fully, your shoulders to go through their full range of motion, and make your body work more efficiently.  Good posture means shoulders back, head up with chin tucked in slightly, and lower abdominals engaged. This will enable your body to work at its best.

If you have any questions, please feel free to go on my website, www.bridgeviewphysio.com, and send me an email. Good luck with your program!