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Exercise as medicine is an extremely important part of cancer treatment from cancer diagnosis through to remission. If there was a pill called exercise it would be prescribed to every patient.

Although sometimes exercise is the last thing an individual suffering from cancer or treatment side affects would think of doing but the evidence strongly supports exercise as one of the main treatments in fighting cancer.

Below we have outlined the benefits exercise can have at each stage in someone’s journey:

Cancer Diagnosis

• Important for mental health as it aids in reducing anxiety and depression
• Prepares the body for aggressive treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
• Prepares the body for surgery
• Reduces the risk of fatigue through treatment and recovery by building strength and resilience
• Lower medical expenses as it will reduce the time in hospital
• Minimize physical decline in terms of strength and fitness

During treatment and surgery

• Reduces time in hospital
• Reduces treatment side effects
• Helps the body tolerate aggressive cancer treatments
• Reduce inflammation caused by cancer medications and treatments
• Reduce muscle mass decline

Recovery

• Reduces overall recovery time
• Improves quality of life
• Reduces the risk of cancer reoccurrence
• Improves overall function to perform pre cancer daily activities
• Helps with weight management
• Reduce the side effects of ongoing medication

We at Healthfit have experience of treating all stages of cancer and would highly recommend exercise as early as possible in your cancer journey.

Both allied health professionals when working with a client are working towards the shared goal of enabling individuals to improve their independent function and perform activities of daily living. Although the lens through which these are executed is different – use of aids and exercises. Both of these allow clients to achieve their goals more efficiently and safely.

When in the process should they work together?

• Both allied health professionals can work together at the start of treating a client.
• An exercise physiologist will normally continue treatment once an Occupational Therapist has put specific aids in place.
• An Occupational Therapist may return to modify any equipment depending on the progress or regress of the client.

What does working together look like?

• Both allied health professionals would complete initial assessments with the clients separately.
• Best practice would be to liaise at this point, once the assessments have been completed. As an exercise physiologist could benefit from understanding what aids the occupational therapist has recommended and in contrast what functions and client goals need to be addressed from a physical and lifestyle point of view which will be included within the exercise physiology report.
• An AEP can tailor certain movements to incorporate the aids that are recommended by the OT.

Healthfit values liaising with other allied health professionals to give clients the best possible outcome in achieving their goals.

We are excited to let you know, we will have a 4th year Exercise Physiology student from the University of Wollongong with us for the next six weeks. We asked Ryan to write a few words to introduce himself for those of you who will meet him over this period:

Hi my name is Ryan

I live in the Shoalhaven region and I am passionate about helping people achieve their goals and love a challenge. When I’m not studying, you’ll find me on the golf course, at the gym or walking my new puppy, Tilly. I look forward to meeting you soon!

We hope you all make him feel welcome as he nears the end of his educational journey with us!

Despite everyone else’s best efforts (see pictures below) the Clinic is still open as normal, including the parking access!

We are still welcoming new clients and are continuing to grow our small business despite these challenges and hope that you all continue to support us as new owners.

An EPC is a GP referral subsidized by Medicare for eligible patients who require allied health services such as Exercise Physiology. These can offer 2-5 rebated sessions based on your GP management plan. This option is available to people who are not on other rebated schemes such as NDIS and DVA and have private health insurance.
It exists to enable patients access to affordable allied health services, for a limited period of one year and is a kick start to managing an acute or chronic condition through in Clinic and/or in home exercise programs prescribed by an exercise physiologist.

An EPC however is not a long-term solution to a chronic health condition as you may require more in person sessions than the maximum of 5 prescribed through the year. It therefore, is not recommended to spread the sessions out to cover the full year as your adherence to exercise will be severely restricted.
An EPC is not just for a generalized exercise program, it should be for a specific acute or chronic condition identified by your GP.
This rebated service still requires a gap payment depending on the clinic charge and the length of the session. Private health insurance will sometimes provide a bigger rebate as well as many more sessions than 5.

In summary, we recommend using an EPC if other rebated schemes are not available such as NDIS, DVA or private health insurance.
However, there is a place for an EPC in enabling patients to commence treatment with an allied health professional. The EPCs session commitment can enable patients to build momentum in their treatment and after which establish a long-term plan of future management of a health condition.