Cancer treatments may cause long-lasting nerve damage, with medication being ineffective. A sports scientist from Germany has found that simple exercises can help prevent nerve damage.
Improvements in cancer treatments have shifted focus to quality of life after recovery. However, many medications like chemotherapy and immunotherapies can damage nerves along with tumor cells. Some therapies leave a high percentage of patients with pain, balance issues, or sensory abnormalities known as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
A recent study led by Dr. Fiona Streckmann demonstrated that exercising during cancer therapy could prevent nerve damage. The research involved 158 cancer patients undergoing treatment with specific drugs. The participants were split into three groups: a control group and two exercise groups that trained twice a week during chemotherapy.
The exercise groups experienced significantly fewer cases of CIPN compared to the control group over five years. Not only did the exercises reduce nerve damage incidence, but they also enhanced the patients’ quality of life and lowered mortality rates post-chemotherapy.
The study highlighted the benefits of exercise, particularly for patients receiving vinca-alkaloids and engaging in sensorimotor training.
Unlike medications, which have shown little effectiveness in preventing or reversing CIPN, exercise has proven to be a cost-effective and efficient method in managing nerve damage associated with chemotherapy. Dr. Streckmann mentioned ongoing efforts to implement exercise guidelines in hospitals for the betterment of cancer care.
She emphasized the importance of recognizing the potential of physical activity in cancer treatment and hopes that the study’s findings will encourage more hospitals to utilize sports therapists to maximize this potential.
