Should I exercise with lung cancer?

The verdict is in: The exercise is good for us. Physical activity has been shown to offer a range of benefits, ranging from increased longevity to increased strength and endurance, to reducing the risk of many chronic diseases, including: Obesity, depression, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Despite the growing body of evidence that exercise regularly promotes good health, especially in the fight against cancer, many people often assume that exercise is out of the question if you have lung cancer. But this is a misconception that lies in a fundamental misunderstanding of anything that can be described as exercise, says Carol Michaels, founder of Recovery Fitness and creator of the Cancer Recovery Fitness Program. "I think people did not really think about lung cancer exercises because they think that exercise is always very intense."

But exercising does not always mean working in sweat and being out of breath. Gentle movements like walking can offer great benefits to lung cancer patients "You can change the exercise, and strength training can be very gentle," Michaels said, noting that the lifting light weights and engaging in slow breathing exercises are all considered to be exercise and can be very cost effective for lung cancer patients.

[See: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Lung Cancer.]

Exercise during active treatment of lung cancer and long after should be part of the riddles of your treatment. The American Lung Association reports that "moderate exercise during treatment of lung cancer can improve fatigue, anxiety, stress, depression, self-esteem, cardiovascular health, muscle strength, effects gastrointestinal side effects and breathing. It can also help you develop your stamina, making you more resistant to the rigors of treatment, says Michaels.

"Sometimes we do pulmonary rehabilitation if the doctor wants to improve their physical condition before surgery," says Scott Marlow, a Respiratory Therapist at Cleveland Clinic. Pulmonary rehabilitation includes breathing exercises, stretching and relaxation. It is more commonly used in patients with COPD. But it may have some applications for lung cancer patients who need to increase their lung capacity. Rehabilitation before surgery can speed recovery after surgery and reduce the length of your hospital stay.

It's so important to exercise at all stages of your cancer journey about 10 years ago, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Cancer Society have teamed up for Create a specialized certification program, the Certified Practitioner Certified Trainer Certificate, ACSM / ACS. for fitness professionals who want to work with cancer patients and survivors. The number of trainers who have completed the certification is still low. Francis Neric, National Director of Certification at CMHA, says that since the program was launched in 2009, the number of certified trainers has "fluctuated between 65 and 100 certifications a year," partly because of eligibility criteria for registration. are rigorous and speak to trainers who have a lot of experience and a passion for working with the cancer population.

Nevertheless, as the number of cancer patients in the United States continues to grow along with our understanding of how exercise should be part of the treatment, Neric says the program should develop. "Extensive evidence shows that stretching, aerobics and breathing can improve the quality of life of cancer patients, reduce the symptoms associated with certain treatments, and reduce the length of your stay at home." hospital."

[See: What Not to Say to Someone With Lung Cancer.]

How to start

Before you start exercising, talk to your doctor about any specific limitations you may have and what is recommended in your situation. There are many variations in the types and stages of lung cancer and its treatment, with various side effects that can affect what you are able to do.

Once you are allowed to exercise, the key to getting started, especially if you were not physically active before the diagnosis, is "start small, set a small goal, and build it slowly." Says Marlow. "One of the things we need to be careful about is that someone does not jump into something too quickly and use it too much." We want to make sure they eat well and we do not like to change too much at the same time, "he says.

To make sure her clients get off to a good start, Michaels explains that she generally conducts an individual fitness assessment "to find out where they are and to determine if they have pre-existing problems." likely to limit the quality of exercises. options. For example, "a person with arthritis and who has undergone hip replacement surgery may need different exercises from those who do not suffer from any pre-existing condition. So, I like doing a thorough assessment of the person with lung cancer. Marlow adds that if you also suffer from heart disease, this can also alter the type of exercise that would suit you the best and how much you should be doing.

In addition, "everyone heals differently," says Michaels, so your program needs to be tailored to your needs. "Sometimes a partial lobe is removed and the stamina is reasonable, while others may undergo the same surgery and be very deconditioned. Every person with lung cancer really needs, to some degree, an individualized program. "

That said, Michaels says she also likes to "create small groups of exercises, because it becomes a support group." She creates these groups around the type of cancer considered. Some lung cancer patients therefore meet regularly for exercise. "Thus, everyone learns from each other and works with someone who has similar situations and goals."

But these groups are not limited to physical exercise. "They can be very good for emotional health. Small groups have been very stimulating for people, "she says. "Many of them have never done any exercise before and many have not even liked the concept of exercise, but sometimes they just come for the friendships they created in the group. I think it's a very important part of feeling better about emotional health and quality of life. Keeping the groups small, she explains that she can adapt to the range of fitness levels and abilities and make the appropriate changes based on individual needs. .

What to do

According to Michaels, the main problem for most people who are taking lung cancer treatment is fatigue and lack of stamina. Especially if you have removed a large part of your lungs, this may prevent you from breathing freely. It is therefore best to start small and progress in the duration and intensity of the exercise.

You should also consider what you like to do for exercise. "Any type of exercise" is better than nothing, says Michaels, but as you get stronger, you'll have more options. Think about what you have found fun because you are more likely to stick to something you like to do in the long run. "The best exercise to do is the one you like to do."

A good lung cancer exercise program usually includes four main areas:

– Drawing. "In order to help lung cancer survivors get deep, deep breaths, we spend a lot of time doing rehab stretching," says Michaels. "It's really where we get a lot of improvements in terms of fatigue, because we're trying to move our arms and shoulders to break the adhesions. [bands of scar tissue in the lungs and chest that fuse tissues that shouldn’t be connected] and scar tissue "improving range of motion and the ability to take deeper breaths.

– Breathing exercises. Likewise, gentle yogic breathing and other simple breathing exercises, such as filling and emptying your lungs, can help improve airflow and break up scar tissue. All of this can help you breathe more freely.

– Strength training. Lifting weights can help you build strength and endurance throughout your body, and can help you reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis, says Michaels. "It's bad enough to have lung cancer. Nobody needs this extra risk of osteoporosis. "

– Aerobic exercise. Walking, swimming, water aerobics, biking, dancing, golf … the list of light aerobics exercises you can do is seemingly long. Anything that raises your heart rate will do and can pay big dividends for your overall health.

Working with a trainer, physiotherapist or other exercise specialist is a great way to create a routine or program that meets your specific needs. Neric recommends looking for a certified ACSM / ACS CET trainer or experienced in managing the specific needs of cancer patients. Trainers with this additional level of expertise "understand the lifestyle and psychosocial well-being of the cancer patient" and can help solve some of these additional problems. "Especially when there are episodes of depression and despair", trainers experienced in working with cancer patients and survivors may be better equipped to deal with these problems and adapt the program. exercises to help you along your journey come from. "

[See: 10 Innovations in Cancer Therapy.]

Start now, here

In the end, start where you are, do what you can and move slowly. "Walk," said Marlow. "I think walking is probably one of the easiest and best things you can do. And you can do it anywhere. If you are too weak or unwilling to walk, ask your doctor or trainer to help you develop strength and stamina. According to Marlow, some patients require inspiratory muscle training – a series of controlled breathing exercises that strengthen the respiratory muscles and facilitate breathing. And of course, follow your doctor's instructions, take your medications as prescribed, and if you still smoke, try to stop smoking.

Just starting can be the hardest part, but it's a critical first step to feeling better, says Michaels. "I'm just asking someone to start – they feel a little better mentally and physically," almost immediately, she says.

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Should I exercise with lung cancer? originally appeared on usnews.com