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Breast Cancer Survivors Thrive with High-Intensity Exercise
1 May
Summary
- High-intensity resistance training improved strength and mobility post-surgery.
- Participants lifted up to 200 pounds by the end of the study.
- Exercise should be a standard part of breast cancer survivorship care.
Recent findings indicate that breast cancer survivors may benefit from more rigorous exercise than traditionally advised. A study involving nearly 200 survivors who underwent various breast cancer surgeries, including lumpectomy, mastectomy, and lymph node removal, participated in a three-month high-intensity resistance training program.
The program yielded significant improvements in participants' strength, mobility, balance, and muscle mass. Notably, many women began lifting 100 pounds within weeks and some reached 200 pounds by the study's conclusion. These gains were observed across all surgery types, even those involving more extensive procedures.
Researchers advocate for exercise, particularly high-level resistance training, to be integrated into standard breast cancer survivorship care. They emphasize that the capacity of survivors to engage in and benefit from such programs should not be underestimated, supporting a quicker return to everyday functions.
