Saturday, February 04, 2017

World Cancer Day: Five sports for cancer patients and survivors

World Cancer Day, February 4, is an ideal opportunity to highlight the important role that sport and exercise can play in the fight against the disease. As a complement to treatments, physical activity can slow the progression of the disease, improve quality of life and reduce the risk of relapse. Here's a selection of suitable activities to try, preferably with a friend. 

Getting moving while fighting cancer or after recovery is essential for reducing fatigue (reduced by 36% on average according to several scientific studies), limiting the loss of muscle mass caused by anticancer treatments, and managing side effects.

Sport is also an excellent remedy for lifting mood and regaining mental wellbeing. It promotes sleep, stimulates immunity and helps rebuild self-esteem. After recovery, physical activity can improve survival rates by reducing the risk of metastasis and relapse. 

Three 20- to 30-minute sessions per week are recommended, as regularity is more important than intensity.

Here's a pick of suitable sports and activities, overseen by specially trained instructors from associations or clubs.
  
Nordic walking-
This low-impact stress-buster is a great alternative to power walking. It's ideal for getting out in the fresh air and getting the blood pumping. Walking with sticks requires coordinated movement, getting all muscles moving while boosting energy expenditure. Nordic walking is recommended as a preventative activity, as well as for cancer patients and survivors, particularly those affected by breast cancer. Nordic walking can be practiced at any age. Various groups, clubs and associations now offer the sport.

Nordic walking (originally Finnish sauvakävely) is fitness walking with specially designed poles. While trekkers, backpackers and skiers had been using the basic concept for decades.  Nordic Walking's concept was developed on the basis of off-season ski-training activity while using one-piece ski poles.

For decades hikers and backpackers used their one-piece ski poles long before trekking and Nordic walking poles came onto the scene. Ski racers deprived of snow have always used and still do use their one-piece ski poles for ski walking and hill bounding. The first poles specially designed and marketed to fitness walkers were produced by Exerstrider of the USA in 1988.

Compared to regular walking, Nordic walking (also called pole walking) involves applying force to the poles with each stride. Nordic walkers use more of their entire body (with greater intensity) and receive fitness building stimulation not present in normal walking for the chest, latissimus dorsi muscle, triceps, biceps, shoulder, abdominals, spinal and other core muscles that may result in significant increases in heart rate at a given pace.Nordic walking has been estimated as producing up to a 46% increase in energy consumption, compared to walking without poles.
According to the findings of the research, conducted by the group scientists from various universities*, both Nordic walking and conventional walking are beneficial for older adults. However, Nordic walking provides additional benefits in muscular strength compared to conventional walking, making it suitable for improving aerobic capacity and muscular strength as well as other components of functional fitness in a short period of time. The key points stated by the study authors are: Nordic walking, conventional walking, and resistance training are beneficial for older adults. •Nordic walking and conventional walking both improve cardio-respiratory fitness while resistance training does not. •Nordic walking provides additional benefits in upper-body muscular strength compared to conventional walking. •Nordic walking is an effective and efficient mode of exercise to improve overall fitness in older adults.

Elliptical training-
The elliptical trainer, or cross-trainer, is a machine found in most gyms, offering beneficial stamina-building exercise that's a whole body workout. It can be practiced during chemotherapy to help reduce fatigue or as a preventative activity. A study published in JAMA Oncology showed that 300 minutes of elliptical trainer reduced body fat and reduced the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. This workout can be enjoyed alone or with a gym buddy.

 Dragon boat-
This paddle-powered dugout canoe is traditionally associated with Asia. The activity, which is akin to rowing, is particularly recommended for women who have previously suffered from breast cancer, as it promotes lymphatic drainage while using back muscles and working the arms. This cooperation-based team sport also relies on the strength and energy of each individual. It's a drug-free therapy that combines sport, fun and camaraderie outside in the fresh air!

 Qi gong-

This branch of traditional Chinese medicine is today recognized and used in certain hospitals, like the CHU de La Pitié-Salpêtrière in Paris, to ease the side effects of chemotherapy. Qi gong increases the uptake and absorption of oxygen from the blood. Its effect on certain enzymes has also been demonstrated. By improving the flow of internal energy throughout the body, qi gong improves well-being, reduces fatigue and fosters serenity.

Médiété®-  This activity, practiced in France, was developed by the co-founder of the French association CAMI Sport et Cancer. The technique teaches movements that are specially tailored, effective and intense, and which use all of the body's muscle and bone chains. Based on beneficial postures, Médiété® improves balance while also toning, stretching and strengthening, and teaches breathing exercises. It features choreographed routines involving a series of movements. It's touted as a good way of reconnecting with the body and clearing the head. 

  this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.
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