Back in 2002, Stanford launched a fitness program specially-designed for adult cancer survivors at the Page Mill YMCA. Now new research shows the program, known as "Living Strong Living Well," significantly improves cancer survivors' physical and emotional state in both the short- and long-term.
Stanford research fellow Matthew Buman, PhD, presented the findings yesterday at the Society of Behavioral Medicine 32nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions. Medscape News reports (registration required):
[Buman] and colleagues found that all psychological measures, including rated fitness, vitality, perceived stress, and fatigue, improved 12 to 16 weeks after the intervention.
Among participants who persevered out to 12 months, improvements in the same measures were also sustained. Similarly, all measures of objective strength, including chest and leg presses, seated row, and total weights, significantly improved mid-intervention at 8 weeks as well as post-intervention at 16 weeks.
Exploratory subanalyses indicated that strength improved in both men and women and in survivors of breast and of nonbreast cancer.
In the video above, Page Mill YMCA member Robin Rove talks about how the Living Strong Living Well program was instrumental in re-building her endurance, energy level and self-esteem after battling cancer. Eight YMCAs from San Jose to San Mateo currently offer the program and registration information can be found here.
Previously: Collaborative project creates a virtual world for cancer patients and Emotional, social support crucial for cancer patients
