Cancer Fatigue? Walk It Off

Can walking, yes just walking, really reduce cancer-related fatigue? Researchers at McGill University think so. A McGill U news release reports on a pilot study that assigned eight-week-long personalized walking exercises to 26 people with advanced cancer. Participants who walked less than 5,000 steps per day were told to increase their daily steps by 10 percent every week, if fatigue remained the same or improved, the number of steps was to be increased.  If the individual’s fatigue level worsened, no increase; if fatigue levels worsened for two weeks in a row, the steps were to be decreased by the same amount as the increase. The envelope please….“We found the effect on fatigue was quite strong,” the researchers wrote. “Walking promoted better physical function, and enhanced overall well-being. Interestingly, shorter bouts of low intensity exercise and shorter duration overall had a promising effect on cancer related fatigue. This is compatible with the theory of emphasizing the need to build, not deplete, resources. While our small study showed promise, more testing is needed in a full study.”