Pancreas is a disease that has a significant impact on the functioning of the digestive system, causing many inconveniences and suffering in the lives of patients. In the process of treatment and rehabilitation for pancreas, reasonable exercise is an important aid. Appropriate sports not only help to improve the physical quality of patients and improve their immunity, but also contribute to some extent to the rehabilitation of pancreas, improve digestive functions, reduce psychological stress and improve the quality of life. However, because of their special physical condition, persons with pancreas are required to follow specific principles and recommendations in their exercise to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the movement.
I. Timing of exercise
For pancreas patients, the timing of the exercise is crucial. During acute onset, patients are usually accompanied by severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, when they are in a state of extreme weakness and stress, and they should rest in absolute bed, avoiding any form of physical activity, in order to reduce pancreas and allow them to rest adequately and prevent further deterioration.
When conditions are gradually stable, abdominal pains and vomiting are significantly reduced, and after life signs have stabilized, some simple physical activity may be attempted on the bed under the direction of a doctor, such as turning over, active limb joints, etc., which should not take too long each time and may take place several times a day for 5 – 10 minutes. As the body recovers further, the volume and range of activities can gradually increase, making the transition to bedside sit-ups, walk at short distances, etc.
In general, within 1 – 2 weeks after discharge, the patient can start some lighter indoor exercise; after discharge, 1 – 3 months, depending on his or her recovery, he or she can gradually increase his or her motor strength and time and try some outdoor exercise. It should be noted, however, that there is a difference between the condition of each patient and the rate of recovery, so that the timing of the exercise must be determined on the basis of a professional evaluation by the doctor and must not be carried out too early or too quickly.
Recommendations for sport projects
1. Walking
Walking is a well-suited sport for pancreas patients. It has a relatively low level of mobility, a relatively low burden on the body, and does not require special space and equipment for easy access. Patients can walk on flat roads, parks or small areas. At the beginning, the time per walk can be contained in 10 – 15 minutes, which can be slow and appropriate 60 – 80 steps per minute. As the body ‘ s ability to adapt increases, the time and speed of walking can be increased to 30 – 60 minutes at 80 – 100 steps per minute. During the walk, care should be taken to maintain the right position, with the chest up and arms moving at the right pace.
Tai Chi Fist
Tai Chi is the traditional exercise of fitness in our country, which combines the movement of the body, the regulation of breathing and the concentration of thoughts, and is characterized by movement that is soft, slow and coherent. In the case of pancreas patients, the practice of Tai Chi boxing helps to regulate the body ‘ s aerobics, enhances the body ‘ s flexibility and balance, and also relieves psychological stress and relaxes the body and body. Patients can attend training sessions on Tai Chi boxing, follow professional trainers to learn basic tricks and moves, and practice themselves at home by watching teaching videos. 3 – 5 exercises per week for 20 – 30 minutes each. During the exercise, be careful to breathe naturally, evenly and act in harmony with the breathing, and avoid over-heavy and suffocation.
3. Yoga
Yoga consists of body-style, respiratory and meditation exercises that help people with pancreas to strengthen their body ‘ s core muscle force, improve body elasticity and joint activity and promote digestive restoration. Some simple yoga styles, such as mountain styles, stand-ups, canine styles, step-by-step promotions, etc., can be gradually tried after a stable condition. Patients may choose to attend yoga courses and practice under the guidance of professional yoga teachers to ensure the correctness and safety of their movements. 2 – 4 exercises per week for 30 – 45 minutes each. In the exercise of yoga, care is taken to choose the appropriate shape and difficulty scale according to the state of the body, to avoid overstretching or distortion of the body, and to keep breathing well and not to force yourself to perform an excessively difficult move.
III. MAINTENANCE AND TIME CONTROL
Insulin patients must exercise strict control of their motor strength and time to avoid excessive physical fatigue or recurrence. In general, the heart rate should be between 50 and 70% of the maximum heart rate, which can be calculated by the formula “220 – age”. For example, a 40-year-old pancreas disease patient should have a heart rate of between 90 and 126 minutes.
In terms of exercise time, it may not be appropriate for the initial period to be too long, starting with 10 – 15 minutes, and gradually increasing to 30 – 60 minutes as the body ‘ s ability to adapt increases. However, care should be taken not to continue the exercise for long periods of time, which may be divided into periods with appropriate breaks. For example, a walk of three 20 minutes per day may be more effective than a one-time walk of 60 minutes and more conducive to physical recovery.
At the same time, during the exercise, the patient learns to monitor his or her own body ‘ s reaction and, in case of abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, panic, etc., he or she shall immediately stop the exercise and rest in place or take appropriate measures. If symptoms persist or are aggravated, medical treatment should be provided in a timely manner.
Sports attention
1. Campaign preparation
Before carrying out the campaign, the patient should be adequately prepared. First, the choice of comfortable, loose, air-breeding sports clothes and sneakers is necessary to facilitate body activity and heat dispersion. Second, proper warm-up activities, such as joints, muscle stretching, etc., usually last 5 – 10 minutes and effectively prevent motor damage. In addition, patients are required to carry the necessary items, such as paper towels, water, first aid medicines (e.g., nitrate glycerine for inappropriate use in the heart) to respond to possible emergencies.
2. Post-motor care
Once the exercise is over, the patient cannot be lightly treated, and appropriate care is equally required. First, relaxing activities, such as slow walking, deep breathing, muscle stretching, etc., help to restore the body to its pre-motion state, usually for 5 – 10 minutes. Second, water should be replenished in a timely manner, but in order to avoid large quantities of one-time water, a small number of times should be used to supplement the water lost during the exercise. In addition, after the exercise, care is taken to observe the response of the body, such as whether there is fatigue, symptoms of discomfort, etc., and, if abnormal, to record and inform the doctor in a timely manner.
3. Catering
Sports and diets are mutually reinforcing, and during the campaign, attention should also be paid to the compatibility of diets. It is inappropriate to eat too much or oversaturate before exercise, so as not to cause gastrointestinal discomfort during exercise. Some protein-, vitamin- and carbohydrate-rich foods, such as yoghurt, fruit, wheat bread, etc., can be appropriately replenished after the exercise to help the body recover energy and nutrition, but care is taken to control the intake and variety of foods and to avoid high fat, sugar and salt.
In the process of rehabilitation, reasonable exercise is important. By choosing the right time for exercise, by strictly controlling the strength and time of the movement, and by paying attention to the concerns before and after the exercise, the patient can fully enjoy the benefits of the exercise in a safe manner, promote physical rehabilitation and improve the quality of life. However, it needs to be emphasized once again that sports programmes must be developed under the guidance of a doctor, with individualized adjustments to his/her condition, condition and recovery to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the movement.
