“I used to be fit before treatment, I could do anything”.
Aileen lived a busy, active life before her diagnosis of breast cancer.
Her treatment consisted of eight months of surgery, chemotherapy, and it was, as she describes, “an intense period of physical and emotional turmoil”.
Like many people after cancer treatment, Aileen was eager to get back to exercise and jumped straight back to it. However, before too long Aileen was struggling with intense low back and hip pain, which was impacting her sleep, work, and getting through the day.
Returning to exercises too soon can result in further injury. A cancer diagnosis itself increases the body’s stress response resulting in muscular tension. Combine that with reduced activity during chemotherapy followed by weeks of holding the body completely still for radiotherapy treatment and it’s unsurprising that the body is stiff and sore.
Since joining CARE, Aileen has reduced her pain, increased flexibility and strength, and has returned to work.
“I can go out and enjoy life more than what I was able to do because I’m no longer limited by my pain,” she says.
Aileen’s rehab programme included scar tissue management, stretching and graded progressive strength training. The key component of the programme was preparing her body for movement. This involved reducing overall tension in the body through a practice of breathwork and gentle movement. Breathwork was the key piece for Aileen.
“It’s now a practice I do every single day. It calms me down, it regulates me, and then I’m able to follow through on my exercise programme,” she said.
Dr Catherine Browne, chartered physiotherapist and pilates instructor is the founder of CARE. She is passionate about getting people moving after cancer. CARE offers individual in person or online sessions at Glow Pilates Ireland, or a self-paced online programme. Book a free phone consultation on CareCancerRehab.ie or call 087 247 3830.
