As soon as you get the green light from your doctor to exercise, start exercising.
According to the recommendations of the US National Comprehensive Cancer Network, it is necessary to devote at least 30 minutes a day to this matter.
However, it should be remembered that not all sports are allowed. According to the famous oncologist Shaitelman, patients should follow the recommendations of their doctor regarding the resumption of training, and increase the load gradually (aerobic and anaerobic).
To begin with, doctors recommend regular walks. Thus, American rehabilitation specialist Dr. Hawk advises: “Set yourself a goal, determine the distance and number of steps. Thanks to these simple techniques, you will see how you improve and how your condition improves. And once you achieve significant results, try something else.”
According to BreastCancer.org (NGO Breast Cancer), the following sports are beneficial for cancer survivors:
- classic running or jogging;
- a ride on the bicycle;
- dancing;
- swimming on special boards (kickboards);
- yoga with modifications (special course for breast cancer survivors);
- tai chi;
- Pilates;
- exercises with weights as part of exercise therapy and under the guidance of a professional physiotherapist.
It is the latter that is especially useful for starting – a complex of exercise therapy with experienced physiotherapy specialists. They are usually well acquainted with the features of the disease and help beginners cope in the initial stages. In particular, they teach how to perform a certain block of exercises, monitor the correctness and speed of execution, etc.
Now let's talk about which sports are not recommended for patients. These are, first of all, those activities during which the arms and shoulders become tense. This can be very risky, so consult your doctor before starting.
Experts recommend avoiding:
- swimming with active use of arms;
- push-ups or pull-ups;
- resistance band exercises;
- training on elliptical or rowing machines;
- tennis;
- cross-country skiing;
- intensive training programs like “Power 90 Extreme”, etc.