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Incorporating Companion Dogs into Cancer Rehab: Dog-Themed Exercise Program for Cancer Patients

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Therapy Dogs in Cancer Care

Key Chapter Points

  • Exercise should be modified for individual patient capabilities, with additional adjustments on treatment days and when symptoms are more severe.

  • This chapter provides dog-themed stretching and strength exercises for cancer patients, along with patient educational handouts including exercise tips and an exercise log.

  • Walking, including dog walking, can be an ideal aerobic exercise that is easy to modify, based on symptoms, physical limitations, and treatment.

  • Exercising should be performed with well-behaved dogs to avoid accidental injuries from disobedient dogs pulling or jumping.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Dawn A. Marcus MD

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  1. Dawn A. Marcus MD
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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Marcus, D.A. (2012). Incorporating Companion Dogs into Cancer Rehab: Dog-Themed Exercise Program for Cancer Patients. In: Therapy Dogs in Cancer Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3378-1_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3378-1_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3377-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3378-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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