Using Autoregulation to Safely Return to Weightlifting During Cancer Treatments

ABSTRACT Masters-level weightlifters diagnosed with cancer can return to training as a part of a successful treatment plan. Many older adults at higher risk for cancer participate in masters weightlifting meets worldwide. Resuming activities enjoyed before diagnosis is part of a return to normalcy for these athletes. This article recommends using autoregulation integrated with periodization principles to account for changes in the body due to surgery, side effects from masters cancer treatments, and age-related declines that affect masters athletes. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy require adjusting workouts from prediagnosis levels to insure a safe and successful recovery while athletes experience side effects from treatments. Autoregulation is recommended to help strength and conditioning specialists assist in daily exercise prescriptions for patients with cancer who experience good and bad days during months of treatment cycles. Resistance training is an evidence-based practice for a successful recovery, and existing literature provides a basis for recommendations found in this article to support program development for masters weightlifters returning to advanced resistance training.