Exercise Training Guidelines for Individuals With Cancer

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In the past, cancer survivors were encouraged not to exercise for fear that such activities were detrimental. Today, however, exercise is increasingly viewed as an integral component of the treatment plan regardless of where these survivors are on the cancer spectrum. Cancer and its treatment often result in patients with complex medical problems, making it clinically more challenging to utilize exercise training as a therapeutic intervention. This course will address issues associated with using exercise interventions with this population including why exercise interventions are needed for this patient population, how to implement exercise programs for this patient population and do so safely, and how to assess changes in fitness in this patient population.

The course includes a lab component which provides the attendees with hands on instruction in both the assessment of exercise capacity survivors and the application of exercise training methodologies to these individuals. Completion of this course will increase the ability of a practicing rehabilitation professional to more successfully treat cancer survivors.

Participants will receive a certificate of participation for 0.8 CEUS (8 contact hours).

COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this course, a participant should be able to:

• Explain the basic biology of exercise, cancer and acute and adaptive responses to exercise.
• Describe cancer diagnoses, cancer treatments, and side effects particularly as they relate to impairments.
• Understand how exercise training can improve functional capacity, quality of life, and improve prognosis following a cancer diagnosis.
• Recognize and respond to adverse responses to exercise training.
• Appropriately modify exercise program in response to acute patient status.
• Write exercise prescriptions for the oncology patient and survivor.
• Identify and use of appropriate outcome measures in the oncology setting.
• Discuss safety concerns associated with exercising this patient population.
• Discuss the use of exercise training across the cancer spectrum.
• Discuss exercise interventions in the context of lymphedema and treatment associated peripheral edema.
• Describe the role of exercise in treating the cancer survivor.

including: PTs, PTAs, OTs, COTAs