What are the main components of a well balanced fitness routine for individuals living with myeloma?

What are the main components of a well-balanced fitness routine for individuals living with myeloma?

So ideally, an exercise program contains both cardiopulmonary fitness exercises and strength, and so strength a minimum of two days per week. But that's a little trickier in myeloma patients. So again, it comes back to knowing what you can and can't do due to your disease limitations. Cardiopulmonary Fitness can be anything, though, something that gets your heart rate up that can be going for a brisk walk, but it can also be dancing in your kitchen. It doesn't need to be going to a gym, hopping on an elliptical trainer. Biking is a great activity, whether it's on a stationary bike or a road bike because it's not a heavy weight bearing. But you have to be careful if you have any restrictions.

What exercises should be avoided for people with skeletal involvement?

We do try and avoid lifting heavy things. There's no one size fits all model, but not lifting things greater than 20 pounds even in your just routine life. You do have to be careful.

Should running be avoided?

So running is when you think about the demographic of who has multiple myeloma, it is an older population. On average, 69-70 years old. So it's not one of, you know, it's hard on your body. Running is for a variety of reasons. If you have no lytic lesions and it's something that you enjoy, there's no reason you can't. But if you have other problems, compression fractures of your spine, that is something that is weight bearing and probably wouldn't be the best choice for you.

Do patients need to go to a gym or can these exercises be done at home?

Patients don't need to go to a gym, and it really depends on what your interests are. It's been there's so much content that's available online for free. You know, like I said, we've made videos that are free, but there's so much more. So if you have computer or phone access Googling those things, you'd be surprised. You can do them right in your home, not need any equipment stretching, yoga.