You want to create a routine that you can abide by each week. Consistency builds strength, resilience, and well-being, and could even promote recovery. Exercise reduces insulin and inflammation levels that are linked to certain cancers, while also raising the effectiveness of medicines and therapies (Wendler, 2022). With any exercise routine you establish, please follow these tips:
- Center yourself, reflect and relax, before exercise
- Precede each exercise with at least 5 minutes of stretches
- Start slow and small, and build every 2 weeks or so
- Give yourself rest, even a day off, after a successful workout
- Make movement a daily responsibility
- Pay attention to your body; adjust your routine accordingly to meet urgent, and emergent, needs
- Devote 2-3 days each week to strength training
- Ensure 150 minutes of exercise weekly, or 30 minutes each weekday
- Remember you have the strength and ability to challenge yourself
If you have neuropathy (disease or dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves, often causing weakness or numbness) follow the
the tips below.
Neuropathy in your hands or fingers
- Finger rolls—Extend your arms in front at shoulder height, with palms facing downward. Then, starting with your pinky finger, curl your hand into a fist, one finger at a time. After, turn the fist upward, and open your hand, one finger at a time, finally with your whole palm facing upward.
- Finger taps—Extend your arms in front, at shoulder height. Touch your pinky finger to your thumb and repeat the process with the other fingers. Perform the sequence again, this time in reverse order. You can also perform finger while sitting down or standing up.
Neuropathy in your feet
- Ankle circles
- Calf raises/stretches
- Standing heel to toe--—Place your right foot immediately in front of your left foot with eyes open and your arms to your side or across your chest. Look straight ahead, focusing on an object, for up to 30 seconds, then repeat the process, this time with your left foot in front of your right foot.
- Standing side leg--Stand next to a chair, fully upright. with feet together. Then raise your leg in an outward position, as far as you can, with your foot pointing forward. Hold this for two seconds, then repeat with your other leg. Keep your back straight and tighten your core, or fully engage your abdominal muscles.
References
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. (2024). Tips for exercising during and after cancer treatment. https://www.dana-farber.org/health-library/tips-for-exercising-during-after-cancer-treatment
Wendler, R. (2022). Exercise during cancer treatment: 4 things to know. https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/exercise-during-cancer-treatment--4-things-to-know.h00-159543690.html