Could Exercise Protect Against Nerve Damage?
Some types of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, often lead to lasting nerve damage — a problem for which conventional medication has limited effectiveness. Researchers at the University of Basel and the German Sport University Cologne recently sought to determine whether exercise could help prevent it.
They assigned 158 cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy with drugs known to cause nerve issues to either standard care or to twice-weekly exercises. The exercise sessions lasted 15 to 30 minutes and included sensorimotor training (balance exercises) or whole-body vibration training (standing on a vibration plate). Results over five years showed that participating in one of the exercise groups was associated with a 50- to 70-percent lower risk of nerve damage from these drugs, as well as improved quality of life and lowered mortality rates. The most significant benefits were observed in patients on a class of chemotherapy drugs called vinca-alkaloids who performed sensorimotor training.
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