368. A single exercise session might suppress cancer growth
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
A new study shows another potential benefit to exercise. In the study, published in the journal Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, researchers at Edith Cowan University in Australia determined that a single exercise session can suppress tumor growth in cancer patients and actively fight cancerous cells. They studied nine patients with late-stage prostate cancer and measured the levels of myokines, a protein released by skeletal muscles that appear to protect against chronic diseases. They found that patients had higher levels of myokines immediately following their workout. The researchers point out that exercise is not a cure for cancer, but it might prolong life expectancy of those with cancer.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
