Sami Mansfield: How Aerobic Exercise Helps Cancer Survivors Combat Depression

Sami (Papacek) Mansfield shared on LinkedIn:

“Beat the Winter Blues: How Aerobic Exercise Helps Cancer Survivors Combat Depression. Personalizing exercise oncology recommendations!

As the colder months set in, many people experience seasonal depression, and cancer survivors are even more vulnerable to these feelings. But there’s a silver lining—aerobic physical activity (APA) can make a difference!

Here’s what the latest research from JAMA and The JAMA Network reveals:

– 25 clinical trials with 1,931 adults with cancer show that APA reduces depression
– Short-term benefits (within 1 month) and long-term results (6–12 months) were observed
– Even low-to-moderate intensity activities, like walking, can help lift spirits compared to no intervention or usual care

Why this matters?
When engaging with someone who has depression or reports seasonal depression, physical activity recommendations need to consider where that person is. Depression will overshadow many types of exercise.

Aerobic exercise offers a straightforward, non-invasive method to enhance both physical health and mental well-being, making it ideal for maintaining resilience throughout the winter!

Some action tips:

– Encourage movement – indoors is a great place to start especially near windows and with muscle.
– Encourage a brisk walk or at home video – our YouTube has quick 5 min options for all levels!
– Recruit an accountability partner – Share this with your community and support cancer survivors in embracing physical activity for better health.

Stay active, stay well, and let’s beat those winter blues together!”

Aerobic Physical Activity and Depression Among Patients With CancerA Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Authors: Matthew Kulchycki, Henry Ratul Halder, Nicole Askin, Rasheda Rabbani, Fiona Schulte, Maya M. Jeyaraman, Lillian Sung, Deepak Louis, Lisa Lix, Allan Garland, Alyson L. Mahar, Ahmed Abou-Setta, Sapna Oberoi

More posts featuring Sami Mansfield on oncodaily.com

Sami Mansfield is the founder of Cancer Wellness for Life. She’s been a certified cancer exercise specialist since 2003 and has dedicated her career to implementing evidence-based lifestyle education, resources and tools into cancer care for both the patients and the providers. She is also a Chair of Cancer Member Interest Group, at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and Breast Cancer Taskforce Co-Chair at Colorado Cancer Coalition.