Exercise can help bone cancer patients recover

Bone tumors are tumors that occur in bones or their appendages. They can be benign or malignant. Malignant bone tumors, commonly known as "bone cancer," develop rapidly, have a poor prognosis, and a high mortality rate. Malignant bone tumors are divided into primary and secondary. Malignant tumors from other tissues or organs in the body are circulated through the blood. So can exercise help bone cancer patients recover?

(1) Health exercises for bedridden patients:

The purpose is to prevent systemic complications that may be caused by long-term bed rest. The content includes various exercises for healthy limbs, exercises for abdominal and back muscles, breathing exercises, etc. You can refer to the gymnastics program introduced above. Upper limb amputees should get out of bed and move around as soon as possible.

(2) Maintain correct posture:

The purpose is to prevent joint contracture and create conditions for wearing prostheses. To prevent joint contracture, the limbs should be placed in a functional position when at rest. Thigh amputees should keep their indigo joints flat and adducted when lying in bed, and tibial amputees should keep their knees extended when at rest.

(3) Functional exercises:

In addition to health gymnastics, rehabilitation exercises should include exercises to maintain and restore the range of motion of joints, such as knee extension and hip extension, and traction techniques can be used when necessary. Muscle strength exercises are mainly for preparing for manipulating prostheses, including upper limb and shoulder girdle muscle strength for using auxiliary tools, healthy limb muscle strength for compensatory functions, and residual limb muscle strength for manipulating prostheses.

(4) Stump weight-bearing exercise:

After the wound heals, you can start weight-bearing exercises on the stump, which is also a preparation for wearing a prosthesis. You can press the stump with your hand (thigh) or tap the bed surface with the stump (calf).

(5) Treatment of residual limb complications:

The main complications of residual limbs include joint contracture, which, if not corrected, will affect the next step of prosthetic installation. For patients with knee flexion, they can lie on their backs and press a 5-10 kg sandbag on their knees, 3 times a day, for 30-60 minutes each time. For patients with hip flexion, they can lie on their backs and press a sandbag on their hip joints, or lie on their backs, with the body on one support surface and the healthy limb on another support surface, with the residual end suspended between the two support surfaces, and add 5-10 kg weights for traction, 3 times a day, for 30 minutes each time.