Exercise for wellbeing
While exercise is often the last thing you feel like doing, research shows that regular and properly supervised light exercise can improve the way you cope with the symptoms of ABC and its treatment.
It can help you to establish and maintain a sense of wellbeing and improve your quality of life. Exercise (such as walking) has been shown to decrease the severity of treatment-related symptoms and can help increase energy levels, improve sleep, reduce fatigue, anxiety, and depression.
Three types of exercise
There are three main types of exercises:
- Aerobic – increases heart and breathing rate, works muscles
- Flexibility – stretching (such as yoga, pilates and tai chi)
- Strength/Resistance – using weights or stretch bands
The exercise you choose may be determined by the part of the body affected by ABC and its physical symptoms. If you are unsure about what type of exercise is best for you, speak to your specialist cancer team.
Listen to your body
Always listen to your body and pace yourself rather than overdo it if you start to feel weary. Most importantly, make exercise fun and do it with others (family or friends).
