Can running really act as a medicine?
Since the late 1980s, researchers have been fascinated by the effect of exercise on breast cancer patients. In a systematic review of literature – basically, an overhaul of 51 different studies – researchers at the University of North Carolina have identified a consistently positive correlation between working out and improvement in physical and psychological health.
Patients who took part in an exercise program while undergoing cancer treatment were found to suffer less loss of functional capacity, be less fatigued and less depressed than those patients who did not exercise. No negative effects were attributed to exercising while undergoing treatment.
The earliest studies analyzed focused on aerobic workouts, as weight training was not yet a major area of research interest. Studies in recent years have focused on both the cardiovascular and strength elements of exercise. A program that integrates both types of workouts is the recommendation of the UNC researchers.
Essentially, what the research shows is that even when your body is battling disease, exercise has the capacity to make people feel better. Going for a run may not eliminate cancerous cells from your body, but if it can make someone feel better it cannot be overlooked as a part of the healing process.
