Perhaps the last thing you may want to do is to exercise, but the most important thing to do is to move! We gave you Three Reasons Why Exercise Is The Best Medicine For Breast Cancer and why many doctors would recommend it as part of your cancer treatment.
But what exercises can you do? Do you have the time? Where do you even start?
Leigh Erin Connealy, MD provides an important insight: “The important thing is that you move and do at least an hour of what I call ‘nonexercising activity’ daily. This can include things such as washing dishes, cleaning your house, or folding laundry because even household tasks require energy and get you moving… ”
Harvard Medical School terms this “NEAT” or Nonexercise Activity Thermogenesis. In a study done by Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic, they found that obese individuals sat for an average of 2.5 hours more than lean individuals. Meanwhile, lean individuals stand or walk for more than 2 hours longer than their obese counterparts.
Dr. Connealy recommends moving around for 30-60 minutes daily. This can be achieved by getting away from your computer, stretching throughout the day, and establishing small intervals to exercise. After adjusting to a more active lifestyle, you can gradually add more time to build up a more rigorous routine.
Below is a chart sampled from The Cancer Revolution written by Dr. Connealy to help you find an activity based on your current fitness level.
If you are bedridden, in a wheelchair, or have a physical handicap that may impede you from exercising, Dr. Connealy suggests an alternative: massage therapy. Massage therapy provides some of the same benefits as exercise, as it stimulates blood, lymph, and immune cells while sending oxygen to your tissues.
At Cancer Center for Healing, we offer many modalities to implement movement into your healing journey. These include Lymphatic Massage Therapy, Turbosonic – Whole Body Vibrational Therapy, and Fitness/ Exercise Consultations with our experienced Health Coach. If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment, please call 949-680-1916.
