Clinical Exercise Physiologist with 9 years of diverse experience in physiotherapy, exercise rehabilitation, and injury prevention, including 5 years focused on cancer rehabilitation. Demonstrated success in helping individuals regain strength, manage fatigue, and restore confidence in movement through personalized, evidence-based programs. Skilled at working across all phases of cancer care—from post-surgical recovery to long-term survivorship—with a strong foundation in functional assessments, manual therapy, and patient education.
We are very excited to introduce satellite programming! We are now offering our Cancer Exercise Program at Century Gardens Recreation Centre in Brampton. As we try to make our programs more accessible and bring our programming to the community, we are grateful for our partnership with Brampton Recreation.
To register, please complete the intake form by clicking here: Intake Form
Once you have completed the form, you will be contacted by our Program Manager to schedule you in for an assessment and book your preferred time slot.
Program Location: 340 Vodden St E, Brampton, ON L6V 2N2
Program start date: September 14th
Program days and times: Monday's and Wednesday's at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm
Length of program: 12 weeks.
?About the Program:
Exercise helps people with cancer manage and reduce symptoms, and in some cases, it even helps people live longer. Exercise has been shown to reduce pain and fatigue, improve mobility, lower feelings of isolation, nausea, anxiety, and depression, and help with blood pressure, weight management, and other important health indicators. Exercise also lowers the chance of a cancer recurrence for some types of cancer.
Wellspring Chinguacousy's Cancer Exercise program helps you manage your cancer-related symptoms and is likely to improve quality of life and a number of health outcomes.
Under the supervision of an experienced cancer exercise leader, you will receive an individual assessment, personalized exercise plan, and an opportunity to exercise with other patients. Many participants also say that they feel less isolated and more motivated to exercise in this program, which is accepting and safe for people at all stages of cancer.
This is an evidence-based exercise program that uses a intervals and circuit training in a safe, supportive environment.
Testimonials:
“I’ve gotten noticeably stronger; my fatigue is more manageable, and my mental state is more positive. I’m able to do things I never thought I’d be able to do.” - Kelly
“Wellspring's exercise program has been a transformative experience for me. The friendly and focused instructors create a positive atmosphere, offering modifications that cater to individuals at different stages of their cancer journey. The energizing workouts are not only enjoyable but also yield noticeable results. Overall, I love the program’s holistic approach and supportive community.” - Michelle Rosen
What to expect:
This 12-week program meets twice a week for one-hour sessions, for a total of 24 sessions. You will receive your own personalized exercise program, which you will follow with guidance from a highly trained kinesiologist or physiotherapist.
The Cancer Exercise program is open to people who are 18 years or older, have cancer at any stage, or are within three years of their cancer diagnosis.
Common benefits:
- Reduced side effects such as nausea, pain, and fatigue
- Improved strength, stamina, balance and range of motion
- Improved mood
- Less anxiety and depression
- Improved body image, weight management?and blood pressure management where relevant
- Reduced isolation by creating a network of peers
- Improved treatment compliance
- Reduced chance of recurrence for some types of cancer
Related research:
This program was developed by Jodi Steele, a registered physiotherapist with a background in personal training, kinesiology and a specialization in cancer rehabilitation.
Mina, D.S.; Au, D.; Brunet, J.; Jones, J.; Tomlinson, G.; Taback, N.; Field, D.; Berlingeri, A.; Bradley, H.; Howell, D. Effects of the Community-Based Wellspring Cancer Exercise Program on Functional and Psychosocial Outcomes in Cancer Survivors. Curr. Oncol. 2017, 24, 284-294. https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3585
- Results: During a period of 13 months, 229 of the 355 cancer survivors who enrolled in the exercise program consented to participate in the study. Participants attended 71% of the supervised exercise sessions in the initial phase and 49% in the transition phase. From baseline to the end of the initial phase, significant improvements in cancer-related fatigue, 6-minute walk test, social well-being, systolic blood pressure, balance, and physical activity volume were observed. During the transition phase, health-related quality of life and emotional well-being improved significantly.
- Conclusions: The Wellspring Cancer Exercise Program is associated with clinically meaningful improvements in cancer-related fatigue and functional aerobic capacity. Several other aspects of well-being also improved for participants in the program, including statistically significant improvements in health-related quality of life, emotional well-being, and systolic blood pressure.
Community-based cancer exercise programs such as the Wellspring Cancer Exercise Program can improve well-being for cancer survivors and can provide an effective option that enhances sustainability and accessibility to exercise services for this population.
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- Schmitz, Kathryn H. Phd, Mph, Facsm; Courneya, Kerry S. Phd; Matthews, Charles Phd, Facsm; Demark-Wahnefried, Wendy Phd; Galvão, Daniel A. Phd; Pinto, Bernardine M.; Irwin, Melinda L.; Wolin, Kathleen Y.; Segal, Roanne J.; Lucia, Alejandro; Schneider, Carole M.; Von Gruenigen, Vivian E.; Schwartz, Anna L., American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable on Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors, SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS: Roundtable Consensus Statement, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: July 2010 - Volume 42 - Issue 7 - pp 1409-1426.
FOR: Living with cancer