In this panel from the 2022 CrossFit Games, Allison Betof Warner, MD and Ph.D., and affiliate owner Amy Hollingsworth join Mike Giardina to discuss the current guidelines and recommendations for training athletes in cancer treatment or remission, and running a successful cancer program in a CrossFit affiliate. Currently, the American Society for Clinical Oncology’s guidelines recommend 150 minutes a week of low-intensity exercise or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise. Additionally, they recommend incorporating resistance training two to three days per week — a recommendation that is new to the guidelines.
According to Betof Warner, there is a precipitous decline in fitness when undergoing cancer treatment, but CrossFit training can be a safe and effective tool to offset these losses. She discusses how the guidelines can be followed by those who are new to the CrossFit program as well as recommendations for those who are already CrossFitters.
Hollingsworth shares her personal experiences from running a successful cancer program in her affiliate. Her program, she explains, improved both physical and mental health outcomes in the athletes who participated.
Both panelists agree creating a team — coach, doctor, and maybe registered dietician — is very important when training these athletes.
Affiliate owners and coaches will walk away from this panel with more confidence in coaching current cancer patients and those in survivorship.
Training CrossFit With Cancer