Swimming during and after cancer treatment
Swim England has teamed up with the University of Nottingham to create a fact sheet explaining how people can benefit from aquatic activity during and after cancer treatment.
The initiaitive comes as figures suggest one in two people in the UK will develop some form of cancer throughout their lifetime, with 375,000 new cases in the UK every year. However, improvements in detection and treatment mean half will survive for 10 years or more.
It used to be the case that resting during and after cancer treatment was thought best, but there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that remaining as active as possible helps with the management of a range of symptoms and improves both physical and mental health.
Dr Dominic O’Connor, assistant professor in physiotherapy and sport rehab at University of Nottingham, who was involved in developing the fact sheet, says the physical and mental benefits of swimming are important, helping the management of symptoms such as pain and fatigue.
Dr Fiona Moffatt, associate professor and director of postgraduate research at the University of Nottingham and a member of Swim England’s Swimming and Health Commission, says she hopes the fact sheet will be used by healthcare professionals, leisure providers and the public to help those living with cancer get into the water.
Swim England is also continuing to develop fact sheets for different conditions, such as arthritis. More: www.hcmmag.com/cancerswim