Begin healing with a single step

The Body and the Mind

We know that our body and our mind are connected. Often, when we are physically ill, our mind is negative as well. The process can go the other way around too. So, when we are feeling depressed, nervous or frustrated in any given way, exercise can help us get better.

That being said, we need to balance our body and mind and make both of these factors healthy. After surviving cancer treatment, both your body and mind are likely to be exhausted and in a bad shape. Moreover, you might get burdened by negativity, making you feel depressed. In these times, healing comes slowly and many people lose their hope while they are waiting for positive things to happen.

Well, you do not need to wait. Rather, you can contribute to your healing through performing therapeutic exercises.

What is Therapeutic Exercise?

When we undergo cancer treatment, our body gets tired and, in time, during the treatment, it gradually deteriorates. Alternatively, if our treatment requires us to stay in bed for a longer time, this will likely have a serious impact on our muscles and our metabolism. In fact, during the first two weeks of bed resting, we lose about 1.5% of our strength daily. Moreover, if we are wearing a cast, treating our broken limb, the strength loss will rise up to 5.5% a day.

Therefore, you might end up with more than 40% of your strength lost, during the healing period. Logically, leading a sedentary life, cancer treatment patients lose even more of their body strength. Afterwards, getting your muscles into their previous shape will require serious work.

So, start thinking about restoring your lost strength now. While you enter stage one of the exercise program, you may consult with your doctor about the safety measures and your own condition.

The Therapeutic Exercise Program

The first step is to know how many steps you have made. For this, you will need to purchase a pedometer, which is a device which counts your steps. This device can be found in any sport or health store out there.

Once you have it, count your average, daily number of steps. Ideally, you should make 5,000 steps a day. You can gradually advance to this number during the course of six weeks. Add hundred steps each day, until your reach your desired number. Naturally, if you already make this number of steps daily, increase your goal to 10,000 steps, again, advancing gradually.

Once you start being more active this way, you will start feeling better in no time. You body will stay in good shape and will constantly improve, making your mind feel more positive too.

Alternatively, you may want to combine your walking routine with strength training. You can use weights, water resistance, medicine balls or other means of exercising. Yet, consult with your doctor beforehand.