Northern Michigan University’s School of Health and Human Performance is recruiting cancer survivors 18-65 who are willing to participate in a 12-week exercise training study. NMU is collaborating with the Marquette YMCA on the project.

All participants will receive temporary YMCA memberships and begin with six weeks of supervised training through the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program. For the second six weeks, participants will randomly be selected to either remain in the YMCA program or undergo gentle, progressive rock climbing-style training in NMU’s Physical Education and Instructional Facility. Simple fitness tests and quality of life questionnaires will be administered in advance, at the halfway mark and upon completion of the training.

“We’re trying to determine if a non-traditional exercise protocol like rock climbing has a different impact on the physiology and psychology of cancer survivors than traditional exercise,” said NMU professor Scott Drum, whose dissertation was about cancer and exercise. “Everyone will be engaging in aerobic, balance and strength activities. Despite the different approaches, both groups should improve physically and psychologically by the end of the study. What we’re interested in is whether there are notable differences between the two training regimens.”

Participants can have any type of cancer diagnosis. They must receive approval from their oncologists or primary care doctors and be able to attend at least 80 percent of the 90-minute training sessions held twice per week from Feb. 13-May 3.  

To register, or for more information, contact Drum at sdrum@nmu.edu.