While King Charles’ health has been in the spotlight in recent days following his cancer diagnosis, the 75-year-old monarch has long been hailed as a fitness fanatic by those around him.
His wife, Queen Camilla, has compared him to one mountain goat due to his love of walking, while Charles has also been reported to perform an 11-minute Royal Canadian Air Force exercise plan known as the 5BX.
Now experts have said such a routine could serve him well.
The 5BX approach is less widely known than some celebrity-promoted programs and focuses on basic exercises.
“The plan is not dependent on extensive facilities or equipment. The exercises only take 11 minutes a day and can be done in your bedroom or next to your bed in the barracks.” reads the booklet for the plan.
The five recommended exercises include bending forward to touch the floor before stretching, push-ups and periods of running in place, alternating with scissor jumps.
Prof. Gavin Sandercock from the school of sport, rehabilitation and exercise sciences at the University of Essex said the 5BX exercise routine had benefits.
“It’s a good mix of endurance-building (aerobic) and muscle-building (resistance) exercises. This fits well within the UK national guidelines on physical activity for health in adults,” he said.
Sandercock added that the routine was also consistent with exercise recommendations during exercise cancer treatment and recoveryadding that because the side effects of some cancer treatments resulted in weight loss, exercises that helped increase or maintain muscle mass were very helpful.
However, Sandercock said the many types of cancer and the range of treatments available mean people with cancer should check with a healthcare provider about what the best exercise is for them.
“If necessary, people being treated or recovering from cancer should be given the opportunity to exercise under the supervision of a qualified exercise professional,” he said.
Prof. Robert Copeland, director of the Advanced Wellbeing Research Center at Sheffield Hallam University, added that the simplicity of the 5BX program made it an attractive option.
“There is little published evidence about its effectiveness, but similar programs have shown improvements in cardiorespiratory health,” he said.
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Lawrence Young, a virologist and professor of molecular oncology at Warwick Medical School, said physical activity in general can help reduce the anxiety and fatigue associated with a cancer diagnosis and cancer therapy, but that emphasis should also be taken into account on individual circumstances.
“Many studies show that staying physically active improves symptoms and side effects in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy,” he said. “There is also some suggestion that exercise may increase the effectiveness of cancer therapy by improving blood flow and strengthening the immune system.”
Copeland agreed. “There may be a perception that people should stop exercising if they are diagnosed with a disease like cancer, but the evidence tells us the opposite,” he said.
One benefit, he added, was that engaging in physical activity could empower patients, restore a sense of control and make them feel like they are contributing positively to their cancer treatment.
Copeland added: “I think the key message here is that staying physically active is an important part of cancer prevention and treatment and that His Majesty should be encouraged in this. It’s the right thing to do.”