The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends a combination of aerobic and strength training exercises for people with cancer.
Aerobic Exercise
The benefits of aerobic exercise include weight management, fatigue reduction, and improvements in heart and lung health, says Winters-Stone.
The recommended amount of aerobic exercise is 150 minutes a week (30 to 60 minutes a day, three days a week) of moderate-intensity exercises like walking, cycling, or water exercise, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity such as tennis or brisk walking.
Strength Training
Benefits include building bone and muscle strength and fall prevention, says Winters-Stone.
The recommended amount is two to three days a week using hand weights, resistance bands, weight machines, or your own body weight.
“Incorporating activities like yoga or tai chi can also help improve flexibility, balance, and mobility, which are especially important for fall prevention,” says Jessica Scott, PhD, an exercise physiologist and head of the Exercise Oncology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
