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Focus on Healing through Movement & Dance for the Breast Cancer Survivor [VHS]
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Focus on Healing through Movement & Dance for the Breast Cancer Survivor [VHS] | VHS Tape

Starring: Enhancement Inc.
Directed By: Thomas Walters

List Price: $29.95  
Available:  Usually ships in 24 hours

Binding:  VHS Tape
Format:  Color, NTSC
Studio:  Tapeworm
Release Date:  February 23, 1999
Sales Rank:  43,267rd


EDITORIAL REVIEWS


Description
Focus on Healing is a therapeutic exercise program for women who have had any kind of breast surgery, node dissection, chemotherapy or radiation. It was developed by two physicians and a dance movement specialist (Sherry Lebed Davis) to help women regain and maintain range of motion, help reduce the risk of Lymphedema, help prevent frozen shoulder, help decrease depression and add to increased sexuality. In 1979, Sherry's mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Both Sherry's grandmother and aunt had died from breast cancer, and her mother's diagnosis was overwhelming. To help her mother and others suffering from post-operative complications, Sherry worked with her two physician brothers to create this program. It was researched and the results published by Sherry and two physical therapists in 1984 in the National Physical Therapy Journal. As a result of the exercises in this program there was a 98% success rate in reducing the complications listed above. Today, more women are surviving breast cancer and statistics of developing Lymphedema range from 6% to 61%. Lymphedema, frozen shoulder, loss of range of motion and/or depression can occur 2 days after surgery to 30 years after surgery. Exercises such as the ones on this video can help prevent future problems for survivors, and therefore help to improve their quality of life after breast surgery. The video is 49 minutes long. It shows 5 women ranging in age from 35 to 72, all of whom have survived breast cancer from 6 months to over 20 years. They are not professional models, are tall, short, thin, not-so-thin, etc. and go through the exercises in an unintimidating manner. The movements can be done seated and Sherry, the narrator and leader of the exercises, constantly reminds the viewers to only do as much as they feel up to at the time. The pace never gets fast enough to become aerobic, to keep the heart beat down, especially right after surgery. (Always check with your doctor before beginning this program.) The music is classical for the slower sections, more upbeat for the alternating faster sections, and is fun to move to. You might even find yourself smiling! Enhancement, Inc. is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) company which produces videos for health and wellness. Focus on Healing is our first project and we are very pleased to be involved with helping to improve the quality of life for thousands of breast cancer survivors. As a nonprofit, we are always seeking funds to reach our goal of distributing this video as fast as possible to all the women who need it. If you are interested in helping us, or have any suggestions, please visit our web site for further information at enhancementinc.com or email us at info@enhancementinc.com.

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"Focus on Healing is not only physiologically and anatomically sound, it is psychologically critical for recovering breast-cancer patients," says Marc Lebed, M.D. He recommends this program for women after mastectomies to increase arm range of motion and mobility, decrease lymphedema, and enhance feelings of femininity and sensuality. These exercises are gentle and can be done sitting in a chair if necessary. The movement class is made up of five ordinary-looking women, all breast-cancer survivors, some overweight, some middle-aged, wearing oversized T-shirts. No supermodels, athletes, or bare midriffs like you see in most of today's exercise videotapes. The instructor is heard as a voice-over, explaining the moves clearly and giving encouraging tips. First is a long upper-body stretch sequence performed standing beside a chair, with classical music playing softly in the background. Some full-body movements are added for those who can do them; the others do modified moves while seated. Next is the "fast, upbeat section." The movements become quicker, still emphasizing upper-body range of motion. Although you do this section standing if you can (one person remains seated), there's no footwork, no choreography. It's mainly swinging, reaching, and pushing the arms in various ways. Then comes stretching, circulation, and more fast movements (this time with a tiny bit of footwork, but nothing taxing or difficult). If you're just getting moving again, this 49-minute program could be an excellent way to start getting stronger and more flexible and feeling better. --Joan Price

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