Is Exercise Safe for Cancer Survivors?

In 2010 The American College of Sports Medicine held a round table discussion concerning the safety of exercise for cancer survivors.  At that meeting the experts concluded, Yes!  Exercise is generally safe for cancer survivors.  Fast forward to 2018.  A similar meeting was conducted to review  research which had been published since the 2010 meeting regarding cancer survivors and exercise.  Good news!  The more recent research supports the potential positive experience exercise can provide for cancer survivors.  I find three take-aways from the 2018 meeting particularly important.  1) benefits can include cardiovascular, respiratory, strength, endurance, and body composition.  2) individual responses will vary because of type of chemo, individual side effects, and cancer treatments.  3) they recommend following the FITT prescription for exercise.

FITT - Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type of exercise.  The recommendations to meet FITT standards include:

*moderate intensity aerobic exercise (brisk walk, bike ride) 3 times weekly for 30 minutes.

*resistance training with weights or resistive bands 2 times weekly, 2 sets of 8-15 reps, with weight 60% of a maximum one time repetition.  

*supervised exercise programs are more effective in meeting goals.

THIS IS FITTEST OF SURVIVORS!!  We compassionately provide supervised exercise.  We help you safely determine the appropriate starting weight.  We help you gradually increase your cardio workouts to the beneficial level of intensity and time.  Survive and Thrive!