It's been proven that pilates is a low-impact physical fitness that consists of exercises that develop the body’s strength, flexibility, and control. The ability to modify any exercise to personalize and tailor each move to a practitioners’ limitations, makes sense, then, that Pilates can be used as an important part of maintaining wellness for those currently undergoing cancer treatments, or those in recovery from cancer.
We isolate different muscle groups though pilates exercises and develop strength in the body’s “core” muscles in the abdomen and back. Pilates exercises also bring awareness to our breathing, finding ways to workout while maintaining a relaxed state.
The National Cancer Institute explains that exercise in general has been shown to be beneficial to cancer patients undergoing treatment and in recovery. Although, many forms of exercise may be too high-impact for those suffering from fatigue, muscle weakness and other cancer side affects, Pilates is a viable option for cancer patients because it is low-impact and features exercises that can be easily modified.
Pilates can be a powerful aid to cancer patients during any stage of treatment. Patients currently undergoing chemotherapy may experience an energy boost from Pilates. It can help patients feel stronger, have better circulation, and at the very least can help relieve the stress of treatment and recovery.
For patients with mesothelioma or other cancers, Pilates offers the benefits of stress reduction as well as gentle strengthening and flexibility training. Engaging in Pilates following a mesothelioma prognosis or similar cancers.
