How Do I Know I Can Exercise While Doing Cancer Treatments
Posted on June 5, 2015
The answer to this question is, you can always exercise. The real question should be ‘What am I physically capable of doing at this very moment?’
Your answer to that question should be your starting point. If for whatever reason you are bedridden or it is really hard for you to get up and move around doing body weight exercises like arm lifts and leg lifts or circles can be incredibly beneficial to help maintain muscle tone and strength. If for some reason you are unable to move certain parts of your body then isometric strength training (flexing the muscle without moving the joint) can also be beneficial.
If you are able to get up and move around start with light walking and slightly more challenging bodyweight exercises like wall push-ups or sit to stands. A couple of times a day do as many as you can and if you can comfortably do more than 15 it is probably time to try a slightly harder variation of the same exercise.
At the end of the day you should really try and do something even if it is a really small amount. Day after day it all adds up and at the very least it will make you feel a little bit better and a little bit stronger even if it doesn’t directly improve your outcome even though often it can.
Your biggest take away from this is – Do the minimum amount you find tolerable and are physically capable of doing. The best way to find out is to ease into it and go by trial and error.
If you would like some examples of a good starting point go here
If you have any questions or comments please leave them below
