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Pilates for Breast Cancer Recovery

15 January 2019•3 min read

Breast Cancer is one of the most common cancers out there. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, in Australia, around 1000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, equivalent to about 3 young women each day.

After a diagnosis is made, extra treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery or radiation may be needed. During this time, it is important to look after yourself. This can be done by reducing working hours, taking adequate rest, eating, and sleeping better as well as doing some gentle exercise.

Exercise is something that is very underestimated. Doctors say that if exercise were made into a pill, it would be the most common and beneficial drug prescribed.

Why You Should Stay Active During Your Treatment Cycle

Physical activity plays a big role in living a healthy life. Supporting evidence say that exercise during cancer treatments can help decrease symptoms, recover faster, and helps to stay healthier through your cancer journey.

Chemotherapy is the main form of treatment which can leave you with some nasty side effects, the major one being fatigue. Some other reasons why exercise can help while undergoing treatments are

Helps improve blood flow
Decreases joint pain and stiffness
Decreases muscle tightness
Helps manage fatigue
Improves sleep pattern
Increases mood
Helps with cardiovascular fitness
Increases strength throughout treatment

What Types Of Exercise Should I Be Doing During By Cancer Recovery?

Any exercise that you enjoy doing is worth maintaining during your treatments (maybe avoid some extreme sports like cross country skiing).

A cancer trained physio would probably recommend doing low impact forms of exercise.

This includes activities like:

Pilates
Walking
Swimming
Cycling
Yoga

These types of exercise are great because it will challenge your body without putting too much stress on your joints and nervous system. Our Exercise Physiologists also work with cancer clients throughout their journey.

Pilates

At Move Beyond, we take a particular interest in Pilates. This is because Pilates is a diverse, low impact way to exercise that allows you to stretch and strengthen your entire body.

Pilates may benefit anyone, however Pilates may be a good way of rehabilitation specifically after having breast cancer surgery.

These include a

Single or Bilateral Mastectomy
Lumpectomy
Breast reconstruction surgery

How Often Should I Do Pilates

Pilates can be done as much or as little as you like. If you are new to Pilates we like to recommend starting with 1 session a week. As you get stronger you can progress this to 2-4 sessions to see great results.

When Is The Best Time To Start Pilates For Cancer Rehabilitation

Whether you have just been diagnosed with breast cancer or are 20 years post mastectomy, it is never too early or late to start Pilates for cancer rehabilitation.

If you are undergoing chemo or radiation at the same time as starting Pilates, your cancer trained physio will be able to work with you to schedule your Pilates appointments on the best days of your cycle to maximise your energy levels.

If you are someone who has finished your cancer treatments for breast cancer, but still gets tightness, pain, or lack of movement around your cancer site, your physio will be able to give you Pilates specific exercises to that may help reduce your pain and increase your strength and mobility.

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