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Cancer Rehab Inc. is now closed. Our last day
of operation was February 26th, 2009. Please send any inquiries to info@cancer-rehab.ca.
In 2008 Cancer Rehab founders
Jodi Steele and Ira Henderson were hired as consultants to design and develop an exercise program for a cancer resource organization
called Wellspring.
In January 2009 Jodi Steele helped launch the program and remains
one of the program leaders. If you would like to join the Wellspring program please contact their Halton-Peel office
at 905-257-1988 or 1-877-499-9904. You can also visit them on the web at www.wellspring.ca.
We would like to thank all of our volunteers
who have helped us over the years. With their help we have achieved our goal
of creating awareness about the importance of exercise, one of the fundamentals of a cancer-free life.
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Our Program
Cancer Rehab offers a comprehensive rehabilitation program for clients with cancer who are undergoing
therapy, are in remission as well as survivorship. All treatment plans are personalized
and tailored to the needs of the client with focus on restoring functional independence.
Our organization provides a broad range of services, most of which are delivered as
components of each individualized rehabilitation program. Each personalized program
includes: detailed initial assessment with program physiotherapist, interval exercise
training program, daily physiotherapy treatment sessions, monthly education sessions, alternative health treatments, including
massage and acupuncture (as prescribed by the program physiotherapist), and rehabilitation counseling. Treatment goals
include: achieving an optimal level of function, providing skills and resources, support for emotional adjustment, eliminate
and/or reduce side effects, and enhance quality of life.
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The Research Behind Our Program
The interval training program is based on research conducted in Germany. Interval training is a combination of aerobic training and strength training components. The theory behind interval training is that people are able to exercise longer and
at a higher heart rate because they are changing the stresses to the body every interval. Interval training works on the principals
of overload and progression. Both are key to induce physiological changes in
the body. In order to realise the benefits of interval training (i.e. increased
levels of physical function), the intensity must be great enough to reach lactate concentrations of 3 +/- 0.5 mmol/l in capillary
blood or a heart rate of 80 +/- 5% of the individuals calculated maximum heart rate.
Interval training is thought to increase hemoglobin and oxidative enzyme concentration.
This form of training is ideal for deconditioned individuals because it is slow to begin, has frequent changes and
does not tax one particular organ system. Stretching and other non-aerobic protocols
do not achieve the increase in blood hemoglobin and oxidative enzyme concentration to the extent that interval training can
achieve. This is why interval training is the preferred method of exercise compared to stretching or other non-aerobic protocols.
The strength training exercises are choosen depending on the individual needs
of the client. For example, a client with a brain tumor may need focus on balance,
lower extremity strength, and core stability.
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