Although this quote comes from a rather scholarly article, the truth of it cannot be denied. There's plenty of evidence supporting the benefits of exercise during cancer treatment.
It's important to be cleared by your physicians prior to starting any exercise program. The physical therapist is trained to help establish a therapy that incorporates any and all indicated rehabilitation intervention, including home-based walking programs.
As an oncology physical therapist, I am well-trained to treat the many side effects of surgery, chemo, radiation, and hormonal therapies. I've seen first-hand the positive impact that a good physical therapy program can have. When patients have been evaluated by their health care professionals and cleared for this kind of activity, it's heartening to observe happy side effects; things like decreased pain, increased function and endurance and an improved emotional state in people actively undergoing cancer treatments.
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| Photo attribution: Don DeBold |
