Health Blog

Have you finished chemotherapy, only to find yourself facing new problems from your treatments? Many cancer survivors develop nerve damage in their hands and feet, which is called chemotherapy–induced peripheral neuropathy, or CIPN.

This happens because some chemotherapy drugs can harm the nerves that connect your brain to the rest of your body. These damaged nerves cause uncomfortable symptoms that can make daily life difficult.

Research shows that more than half of all cancer patients develop severe peripheral neuropathy as a result of their chemotherapy treatment. This can lead to a significant decrease in quality of life, make it hard to perform everyday activities, and even cause patients to stop their cancer treatment. While there's no cure for CIPN, research is consistently showing that exercise therapy is a promising approach to help manage its symptoms.

What CIPN feels like

CIPN can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including:

• Numbness or tingling: your fingers or toes might feel “asleep” or have a pins–and–needles sensation


• Pain: some people feel burning, stabbing, or shooting pain


• Balance problems: it might be harder to walk steadily or climb stairs


• Weakness: simple tasks like opening jars or holding a pen might become challenging


• Sensitivity: hot and cold temperatures might feel more extreme

These symptoms don't just cause physical discomfort. They can also lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, or depression. Some patients even stop their cancer treatment early because CIPN is so difficult to manage.

While there's no magic bullet that completely eliminates CIPN, exercise therapy has been shown to be effective in managing symptoms and improving patients' lives. Exercise can work in a few ways, such as helping nerves grow and survive, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow and metabolic activity of the nerves.

Comprehensive review of research shows that exercise definitely helps

Based on this knowledge, a recent study was conducted to take a closer look at the research on exercise and CIPN to see just how effective it is. Researchers performed a meta–analysis, which is a type of study that combines the results of many individual studies to get a bigger picture of the supporting evidence. In this case, they looked at 15 high–quality studies called randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of exercise therapy on CIPN. These trials included a total of 1,124 patients and evaluated various types of exercise, including stretching, strength training, aerobic exercise, yoga, balance exercises, and sensory exercises.

The researchers analyzed the data from these studies to see how exercise affected CIPN symptoms, quality of life, pain, and balance. Here's what they found:

• Reduced symptoms: exercise therapy significantly reduced the overall severity of CIPN symptoms, including numbness and tingling


• Improved quality of life: exercise led to improvements in patients' overall quality of life, as well as their physical and functional abilities


• Pain relief: exercise helped to reduce pain associated with CIPN


• Better balance: exercise improved balance in patients with CIPN

These findings strongly suggest that exercise is a safe and effective way to manage CIPN symptoms and improve the wellbeing of those affected by this condition.

How physical therapy can translate these findings into practice

Physical therapists are experts in designing exercise programs tailored to individual needs. We can assess your specific symptoms, limitations, and overall health to create a safe and effective plan to help you manage your CIPN. Here's how we can help:

• Personalized exercise plans: physical therapists always develop treatment programs that are right for each patient; therefore, when designing your personalized plan, we'll take into consideration the type and severity of your CIPN, your fitness level, and any other health conditions you may have


• Safe and effective exercises: we'll guide you through exercises that are proven to be beneficial for CIPN, ensuring you perform them with proper form to maximize benefits and minimize risk


• Symptom management: we can teach you strategies to manage your symptoms during exercise, such as pacing yourself and modifying activities as needed


• Progressive approach: We'll gradually increase the intensity and duration of your exercises as you get stronger and your symptoms improve

Give us a call today

Don't let CIPN control your life. Exercise, with the guidance of a physical therapist, can be a powerful tool to help you regain function, reduce pain, and improve your overall quality of life. Contact our clinic today to learn more about how we can help you manage your CIPN and get back to doing the things you love.

If you're interested in learning more about the featured study, click here to read the full text.