Mbodies Pink Ribbon – Trains the UK’s Breast Cancer Exercise specialists with its Pilates based Post Operative Rehabilitation Course. By Chris Onslow
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The Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Rehabilitation course will prepare Pilates Instructors to qualify and be certified as a Breast Cancer Exercise specialist.
Overview of Breast Cancer in the UK
One in nine women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer at
some time in their life and according to the UK Office of National Statistics Breast
Cancer is the most common form of cancer in England. More than 11,500 people
will die of Breast Cancer every year. Over 600,000 people who have been treated for Breast
Cancer are currently living in the UK.
For many thousands of women who have survived Breast Cancer the disease
will return, and the cycle of treatment and decision making will start all over
again, the return of the cancer may or
may not be related to the first incidence.
In 2010 there were approximately 50,000 new cases of Breast Cancer
in women and 400 cases in men with the highest incidence in the 60 to
70-year-old age range. Less than 20% of
all Breast Cancer new diagnoses are in women under the age of 50 years. It is estimated that by 2030 Breast Cancer
cases are set to rise to 60,000 per year The good news is that the chance of
surviving an early diagnosed cancer continues to increase with the improvement
in diagnosis techniques and the tailoring of treatments.
How Mbodies Post-rehabilitation programming can benefit
The good news is that research shows that the correctly
chosen exercise regime will benefit the patient right through from diagnosis to
death. With around one hundred research studies correlating the effects of
exercise on different aspects of the life expectancy and lifestyle of the
Breast Cancer survivor or sufferer. In
broad terms these studies demonstrate that well-chosen safe exercise programs
will improve life expectancy, reduce the chance or recurrence of cancer as well
as making the journey through treatment more effective and tolerable.
Whether recently diagnosed and treated or a veteran survivor
the Pink Ribbon Post Rehab programming is suitable to improve ‘function’ and
lifestyle. Post rehabilitative exercise is an important part of the journey
that a Breast Cancer Survivor needs to take if they hold the goal of returning
to a similar or better lifestyle than they experienced prior to the illness.
Mbodies have trained over 90% of the 300+ Breast Cancer
Exercise Specialists in the UK and Europe and are responsible for forging the
relationships between Specialist Cancer Units, Breast Cancer Charities and
trained Breast Cancer exercise Specialists, which so successfully offer post rehab
exercise classes to Breast Cancer survivors; following their surgery and during
their reconstruction and post-surgical therapy.
Breast Cancer Post Rehab Exercise Specialists are expected
to stay on top of the advances in Breast Cancer diagnosis and treatment so that
they can relate to their client’s ’journeys’ and make informed, effective and
safe exercise choices when evaluating their clients and prescribing a course of
exercise.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXERCISE AND BREAST CANCER
Exercise is one of the most important actions you can take
to help guard against many types of cancer. Most cancers are caused by
lifestyle factors—not genes. Up to one-third of cancer-related deaths are due
to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, including two of the most common cancers,
breast and colon cancer. More than two dozen studies have shown that women who
exercise have a 30 percent to 40 percent lower risk of breast cancer than their
sedentary peers. Physical exercise has been reported to increase strength and
endurance, restore confidence, improve quality of life, decrease fatigue, and
reduce all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality in breast cancer
survivors. The beneficial effects of physical exercise may manifest themselves
in lowering obesity, inflammation, and hormone levels, circulating levels of
insulin, insulin-growth factors (IGFs) I and II and their binding proteins
(IGFBPs), or inflammatory biomarkers, all of them implicated in breast cancer
outcomes. It also strengthens the immune system, reduces damaging proteins and
chemicals, improves mood, motivation and reduces depression; helping people to
return to the highest level of function and independence possible while
improving physical, emotional, and social well-being.
OESTROGEN AND EXERCISE
The female hormone oestrogen seems to play a key role. Women
with high oestrogen levels in their blood have increased risk for breast
cancer. Since exercise lowers blood oestrogen, it helps lower a woman’s
breast-cancer risk, and specially, vigorous exercise makes oestrogen less
likely to trigger cancer or to fuel the growth of hormone-dependent tumours.
Even older women need to be concerned about oestrogen, because after menopause
the hormone is produced by fat cells. Women who exercise have less fat and
therefore produce less oestrogen. Preventing cancer through exercise is one of
the best ways a woman can take charge of her health. Exercise reduces fat deep
in the abdomen (“intra-abdominal” fat), a hidden risk factor because it can
raise insulin levels, which promote the growth of cancer cells as well as
cholesterol levels.
INSULIN AND EXERCISE
Research has shown
that exercise training can reduce fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance
in adults with and without type 2 diabetes. Exercise training has also been
shown to alter IGF and IGFBPs in healthy women. Insulin resistance: Insulin is
a hormone made by the pancreas that helps the body use blood sugar for energy.
Insulin resistance when the body doesn't respond to insulin properly resulting
in a rise in blood sugar which increases the risk of some cancers. Exercise has
been shown to improve insulin resistance.
INFLAMMATION AND
EXERCISE
Inflammation is the body's response to injury and disease.
Ongoing low-grade inflammation and chronic inflammatory diseases, such as
inflammatory bowel disease, are associated with several cancers. Exercise may
help reduce inflammation, which may help lower the risk of cancer.
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND EXERCISE
Immune system function: Moderate-intensity exercise has been
shown to improve the function of the immune system, which the body uses to
fight infectious disease and cancer.
HORMONES AND EXERCISE
Being overweight and inactive increases the risk of cancers
regulated by hormones, such as breast and uterine cancers. For instance,
overweight and obese postmenopausal women have higher levels of oestrogen in
the blood compared with thinner postmenopausal women. One clinical trial
(research studies involving people) found that postmenopausal women who were
inactive and overweight or obese had their hormone levels drop after exercising
for 45 minutes each day, five days a week, for 12 months. However, the hormone
levels dropped only in women who had also lost body fat, suggesting a
connection between exercise, hormone levels, and body fat. Vigorous exercise makes
oestrogen less likely to trigger cancer or to fuel the growth of
hormone-dependent tumours.
LYMPHATICS AND EXERCISE
Exercise helps minimize and manage lymphedema in a few
special ways. Muscle movements provide the pumping action that moves lymph
through the lymphatic system, and deep breathing stimulates lymph flow. In
addition, strong muscles help protect against a lymphatic response when a limb
or torso must support unaccustomed weight, which the body interprets as a
stress event. These are compelling reasons for breast cancer survivors to
exercise and lift weights, but in a maddening contradiction, exercise and strength
training can also create lymphedema risk. Exercise raises body temperature,
stimulating lymph flow, and the very process of strength training loads the arm
with unaccustomed weight that can trigger a lymphatic stress response. Yoga and
Pilates movements that require the arm to support body weight can have the same
effect.
PINK RIBBON POST REHABILITATION PROGRAMING FOR EXERCISE
During exercise programmes always:
• Start conservatively.
• Add resistance / exertion slowly and in small increments,
and only if there has been no new presentation or worsening of lymphedema
symptoms after exercise to date.
• Introduce periodic deep abdominal breaths, which
facilitate lymphatic drainage.
• Avoid temperature extremes in the exercise venue.
• Rest muscle groups in between sets.
• Modify moves to accommodate your patient needs.
• Include slow
warm-ups and cool downs in your workouts, as well as post-workout stretching to
minimize muscle soreness.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR PILATES EXERCISE
• When starting a Pilates mat or equipment program, upper
body movement should be limited to a few repetitions with little to no spring
resistance at first.
• Upper body weight bearing and planking should be avoided
at first.
• Progress to higher resistance only after 2-4 sessions with
low resistance, supervised to ensure proper form, and only if there have been
no changes in your existing BCRL, or no lymphedema symptoms if you are a breast
cancer survivor at risk for lymphedema.
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Lateral Pull
Standing with Balls |
• Take care to alternate exercises so that arms and torso have rest periods between sets.
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| Lunges |
Pilates exercises that may be too rigorous at first include:
o Mat work that requires weight bearing on arms: planks/push
ups, side planks
o Swan
o Exercises from swan position such as single and double leg
kick, and swimming.
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Avoid rigorous
exercises at first, such as this: ‘Swimming’ |
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Avoid Reformer exercises using strap resistance on the upper body, such as ‘The hundred’ |
• Avoid any exercise that requires upper body exertion to
which you are unaccustomed.
• Be sure you know how to change springs on apparatus, in order to avoid injury.
About the Author:
Chris Onslow is Managing Director of Mbodies
Training Academy Full Biography Here:
To help Breast Cancer Survivors and find out more about how
you can qualify to be certified as a Breast Cancer Exercise
specialist. Please contact Chris at Mbodies:
Email: info@mbodiesacademy.com
Pink Ribbon study is online from April 2023
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