Bone mineral density for cancer survivors
Can exercise help?
Beating cancer is not just about beating cancer. Cancer can cause a multitude of problems that can hang around long after the cancer has been treated. One condition that cancer survivors often have to deal with is decreased bone mineral density resulting in decreased joint integrity and increased risk of fractures. The cause of decreased bone mineral density in cancer survivors is multifactorial and include things like cancer cells affecting the number and size of bone cells, cancer cells causing inflammatory reaction resulting in damage to small blood vessels, anticancer drugs, variations in normal hormone production such as androgen and estrogen and many other potential causes during the time course of cancer.
Most research that has occurred in the area of decreased bone mineral density associated with cancer has been performed on women with breast cancer, mainly because women are much higher risk of decreased bone mineral density, especially post menapausal. However, basically all cancer survivors are at a risk of decreased bone mineral density and there are some strategies that can be successfully implemented to reduce the rate of degradation and even improve bone mineral density in the long term.
Getting the correct medications, eating the correct foods, getting good sleep, appropriate exposure to sun or vitamin D supplementation, and the one that can assist arguably the most is appropriate exercise. The exercise can be relatively simple for most people and, in a lot of cases, can be performed on the lounge room floor but it can be great to get out and use the exercise for some social interaction as well.
To get the most out of an exercise program and to improve bone mineral density it is important to select the correct exercises. Exercise such as clinical pilates has some really nice research evidence for improving bone mineral density and quality of life. Pilates is a great exercise to get started, especially if you are new to exercise and have had bone mineral density issues for a while and might even have a few difficulties with balance. The great thing about clinical pilates is that all levels of experience can get in and have a go, it is gentle to perform, and the exercises can be made more difficult as you improve.
Resistance exercise can be brilliant and a great way to load and stimulate areas of the body that are affected by osteoporosis. Machine resistance does not work as well (according to the research) as body weight and large muscle group exercises. Wrist fractures, vertebral collapse and hip fractures are the most common problems associated with osteoporosis so resistance exercise prescription that meets your ability, as well as being effective at improving your bone mineral density in the areas required, is really important.
Prescribing exercise for individuals prone to wrist fractures, due to post cancer related bone mineral density deficits, can be quite difficult. One of the more effective exercises that might be a bit of fun is actually the breast stroke action in water. So it is not always about getting into the gym and lifting weights. You can get into the water, float around and have some fun with it.
Other areas that exercise can help during and after cancer treatment are:
Lower the chance of having physical side effects, such as fatigue, neuropathy, lymphedema, osteoporosis, and nausea
Reduce the risk of depression and anxiety
Keep you as mobile and independent as possible
Improve your balance to reduce fall injuries
Prevent muscle loss and build strength
Prevent weight gain and obesity, which are linked to increased cancer risk
Improve sleep
Decrease the amount of time you need to stay in the hospital
Improve survival rates for certain cancers, such as breast cancer and colorectal cancer
Prevent other chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes
Improve quality of life
All power to you
