We all know that cancer is life-threatening and can lead to a host of challenges to the day-to-day existence of an afflicted individual. A strong and diverse pain management strategy can help those with cancer prevent pain from becoming overwhelming. Physical therapy and exercise are crucial tactics for immediate and long-lasting cancer pain alleviation.
Minimizing cancer pain with physical therapy
Beyond pain relief, physical therapy treatments have two other basic goals:
- improve the range of motion of your muscles; and
- make your body stronger.
Physical therapy actually refers to two broad categories of treatment: active and passive. The two forms of treatment work in tandem to optimize your physical rehabilitation.
Active treatments require you, as the patient, to work your muscles through exercise. Passive treatments do not require your active participation but are performed by the physical therapist instead. Examples include massage and ultrasound therapy. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is another form of passive therapy. Administration of TENS involves a device that transmits low levels of electricity into your nerves, assisting in pain management.
Typically the physical therapy approach begins with passive treatments and then gradually incorporates active treatments.
Treating cancer pain with exercise
Exercise can help you manage cancer and the pain that comes with it, and you will see benefits even though the exercises won’t be demanding. Basic benefits of exercise for cancer include the following:
- improves energy and reduces fatigue;
- keeps the body fit, benefiting overall health;
- keep stress levels low; and
- bring strength back to the body (which is crucial if cancer treatments have depleted your muscle mass).
When using exercise as physical rehabilitation for cancer, don’t be excessive with your workouts. Never perform physical activities that put undue strain on your body.
Exercise programs should be multi-faceted, combining elements of three different exercise categories:
- flexibility, such as yoga
- strengthening, such as light weightlifting; and
- aerobic, such as swimming.
Notice that none of those exercises are very challenging to the body. Also don’t start too fast with too much. Respect the natural pace at which your body wants to recover.
The wisest way to get started with exercise after cancer is to utilize a physical therapist who is highly experienced with pain conditions. At Weston Medical, we offer a fully equipped physical therapy gym and a staff that customizes treatment plans for each patient. Contact us today to get started with a comprehensive cancer pain strategy.
