When exercise becomes treatment …

[18 August 2010 - 10h19]
[mis à jour le 18 August 2010 à 10h21]

Nordic walking for patients suffering from COPD, yoga for patients suffering from cancer … exercise is an aspect of support care that is gaining ground … with satisfactory results both for patient morale and for the patient’s state of health.

The French Sport and Diabetes Union, for example, has developed some exercise programmes specifically for diabetes sufferers. The aim is to include exercise as part of therapeutic education. The organisation runs one-week courses throughout the year. On the agenda are mountain biking, hiking, table tennis, skiing, rowing, beach volleyball, etc. All of this under the supervision of professional coaches and medical/sports trainers.

More unusually, the French Cancer Martial Arts and Information Association promotes the practice and teaching of martial arts for people affected by cancer. Karate, for example, is a good way of regaining control of your body. And during the course of a session, the disease itself is put to the back of the mind. A study presented recently at the Chicago Cancer Care Conference highlighted the benefits of yoga in helping patients sleep.

For people who suffer with their joints, exercise is also very strongly recommended. Many studies have shown the benefits of exercise in combating fatigue, but also in increasing muscle strength and functional ability. It is particularly useful for people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. And physical exercise is absolutely essential if you suffer from osteo-arthritis… to improve joint mobility and to get your muscles working.

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