Strength and Courage

kareenie

This is a $20 exercise video which is recommended on the bco.org "Lymphedema and Exercise" page. It can be found at www.strengthandcourage.net . Has anyone seen this video? Does it follow PAL guidelines and how relevant is it to those of us with lymphedema? Did notice in the promotional video that no one is wearing compression. Should we stick with Lebed video?

Edited: Dr Kathryn Schmitz the PAL researcher is associated with the website and video.

carol57

I believe that Strength and Courage is an exercise program developed under Dr. Schmitz's guidance by the University of Pennsylvania, in the same unit or group that conducted the PAL Trial. The program goal was to get PAL-compliant strength training instruction 'out there' for BC survivors.

The program was initially (and I think still is) offered in group class-type settings at various gyms around greater Philadelphia, and eventually came to be offered by sponsoring cancer centers and other organizations around the country. A few months ago I tried without success to find if there is a directory of S and C program sponsors.

I was not aware of the video but I imagine it to be an offshoot of the instructor-led program. As for a promotional video showing women without compression, it's possible that the women featured are at risk, but not diagnosed with LE. For the at-risk group I think there's been a shift toward suggesting compression is not necessary when doing exercise or strength training. Still, it seems irresponsible to model strength training without compression when it's obvious that women who have LE will be among those looking for exercise resources.