Physical Rehabilitation and Exercise

The Physical Rehabilitation and Exercise Service at Cancer Care West is for adults before, during and after cancer treatments. The service uses the most up to date research in the field of cancer and exercise, and is designed to help prevent, manage and improve the side effects of cancer and its treatments.

While it is brilliant that cancer treatments are improving all the time and more people are living longer with and beyond cancer we also know that the treatments can have unwanted side effects. These unwanted side effects can have a big impact on people’s lives.

Treatment related side effects can include pain, fatigue, lymphoedema, reduced fitness, reduced strength, restricted range of movement in joints, osteoporosis, nerve injuries, breathing problems, increased weight, changes to heart health, etc. Cancer rehabilitation and exercise can help to reduce these side effects.

Engaging in exercise after a cancer diagnosis

After being diagnosed with cancer people can often feel like they don’t know their own body anymore. People often tell us that they want to get or stay active but have no idea how to do that or can feel like they are not fit enough to even start. Others say they have never set foot in a gym and aren’t “sporty people” and so can feel nervous about coming to the gym for the first time.

However, everybody who uses our service here is first assessed by our Exercise Physiologist. It doesn’t matter how much or how little you can do right now, a plan will be made with you, for you, and will focus on what you want to work on. Our specially designed gym is welcoming and attended solely by others who are working to manage their physical health after a cancer diagnosis.

Some people may come to the service solely for advice and information and then prefer to do their own thing at home. Others may start off with one-to-one exercises and can stick with that or go on to use the gym and/or join some of the physical exercise groups on offer. In time, you may then find yourself starting or returning to activities you want to do, like rowing, swimming, pilates, gardening, DIY, getting back on a motorbike, running outdoors or even getting back to work, etc. Whatever approach suits you and your lifestyle, we can offer input. We see people with all types of cancer including those with metastatic disease.

Cancer Physical Rehabilitation can help with:

• Cancer related fatigue
• Pain and stiffness
• Increasing exercise levels and/or general physical activity
• Improving your ability to do the things you want to do
• Improving movement
• Improving strength
• Improving fitness
• Improving balance
• Improving heart health
• Helping with body image
• Getting ready to return to work
• Returning to sport
• Osteoporosis or osteopenia
• Weight gain
• Lymphoedema
• Post-operative pain and stiffness
• Brain fog/ “chemo brain”
• Reducing fear of movement
• Improving continence
• Improving mood
• Aiding sleep and management of psychological distress

Physical Rehabilitation and Exercise Classes at Cancer Care West

In order to best meet your needs and offer a rounded exercise and rehabilitation service, our group sessions include: gym sessions (an accessible way to get stronger day by day with a focus on resistance training), Flexibility classes (to help improve flexibility), Alexander Technique group classes (to help reduce pain and stress and help you to move with more ease and less muscular tension). We also run Salsa (Bachata) classes, which offer the opportunity to engage in aerobic exercise in a fun and enjoyable way.

All services are free of charge.