Movement strengthens the body and mind
Photo: Oncofit
Exercising is not only important for maintaining a healthy weight, but it also plays a crucial role in the functioning of the body and mind. Muscles are the engines that enable movement and generate the energy needed for essential activities such as moving, breathing, thinking, and growing. This energy also comes from the food we consume, which is why maintaining a proper diet is vital to living a healthy life.
Giovanni Echeverri, a professional in sports sciences and a specialist in oncological exercise and rehabilitation, is the director and founder of Oncofit, a Colombian organization based in the city of Medellín. Oncofit is dedicated to supporting patients with cancer and orphans or rare diseases – conditions that affect a small group of people, making both research and access to treatment more challenging.
Since its founding six years ago, Oncofit has benefitted hundreds of patients by integrating physical exercise as a therapeutic complement, promoting better tolerance and response to treatment such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiotherapy.
Echeverri began his work in various foundations in Medellín, supporting patients in preserving their mobility. In the case of oncology patients, improvements in physical condition also have a positive impact on their emotional state, contributing to their overall well-being. Today, social media has amplified the reach of his work, allowing him to play an important educational role in this field.
Staying physically active provides numerous benefits, not only in disease prevention but also in preparing the body for surgery or treatment. Physical activity plays a key role in regulating mood, as it stimulates the production of serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin -neurotransmitters essential for mental and emotional well-being. Additionally, after surgery, exercise promotes a more efficient and faster recovery, improving physical functionality and quality of life.
Echeverri emphasizes that cancer manifests individually rather than generally, as there are various types of cancer, each affecting people differently. Therefore, it is essential that each patient follows a personalized exercise routine, designated with an intensity tailored to their specific needs to ensure both safety and effectiveness.
Today, oncology specialists encourage oncological exercise, which refers to any physical activity aimed at mitigating the side effects of cancer and improving the patient’s well-being.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment can cause fatigue due to their impact on healthy cells in the body. As a result, patients may experience asthenia, a persistent feeling of weakness, exhaustion, and lack of energy that makes daily activities difficult and this does not improve with rest. However, Echeverri explains that physical activity has been proven to significantly reduce this fatigue, improving the patient’s overall well-being.
Additionally, oncological exercise enhances self-esteem by allowing patients to maintain their mobility and independence. This, in turn, helps reduce depression, anxiety, and stress associated with coping with disease, creating more supportive environments for social relationships. Echeverri also points out that physical activity has been shown to decrease nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients, helping them feel better.
Hormone therapy is commonly used in breast cancer treatment. In this context, Echeverri highlights that oncological exercise plays a crucial role in managing sarcopenia, a condition characterized by the loss of muscle mass, strength, and function. In this way, physical activity helps reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis, improving patient’s bone and muscle health.
Oncofit
promotes various exercise routines designated to help patients maintain an active
and independent lifestyle. These include essential movements such as opening
and closing hands, raising the arms, and bending the knees, as well as
stretching exercises and group walks to encourage social interaction and
prevent loneliness and isolation. Strength exercises using specialized equipment
are also recommended to maximize physical benefits and strengthen the body.
In addition to offering a comprehensive oncological exercise program, Echeverri, through Oncofit, organizes in-person and virtual meetings with cancer patients and survivors. During these sessions, he explains the benefits of physical exercise in an accessible way and answers general questions on the topic. Notably, many of these talks focus on raining awareness about the importance of exercise in cancer treatment, and in an act of generosity, Echeverri offers them completely free of charge.
Oncofit is an organization that effectively leverages technology to promote its services and educate the community about the importance of oncological exercise. Those interested can connect with Oncofit through Facebook, Instagram and other platforms.
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