Exercise Guidelines

Exercise Guidelines for Persons with Cancer

It is generally safe for persons with cancer or a history of cancer to participate in exercise. The exercise recommendations for cancer survivors are vastly similar to the AHA exercise guidelines¹ and Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans ²

Cancer survivors should aim for 150 minutes of aerobic activity and at least two days of resistance training per week.³

If these recommendations are unable to be achieved, it is important to encourage your patients to engage in as much activity as possible.

For more specific guidelines on exercise prescription based on specific cancer related symptoms, refer to the chart from ACSM below:

Incorporating Exercise in a Daily Routine

Finding time throughout the week to incorporate 150 minutes of aerobic exercise and 2 days of strength training can be difficult for many individuals. Although the goal is to follow the recommendations, there are many other ways to encourage staying active throughout the day. Below are 5 easy tips in which you can educate your patients on to incorporate more physical activity into their daily life without having to go to the gym or use workout equipment. Remember, some activity is better than none! ⁴

References:

1.American Heart Association recommendations for physical activity in adults and kids. www.heart.org. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults. Published April 18, 2018.

2. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition. US Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf. Published 2018.

3. Campbell KL, Winters-Stone KM, Wiskemann J, et al. Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors Consensus Statement from International Multidisciplinary Roundtable. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2019; 51(11):2375-239

4.How to incorporate fitness into your everyday life. Healthy UNH. https://www.unh.edu/healthyunh/blog/physical-activity/2018/11/how-incorporate-fitness-your-everyday-life. Published November 14, 2018

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