Post Surgery Exercise

I am a cancer exercise specialist and a breast cancer survivor. I can say from personal experience and from the cancer survivors I've trained, exercise is crucial to recovery. Everyone will have different range of motion and a different experience with returning to an exercise program. Once you have your physician's approval to begin an exercise program, I would recommend finding a rehabilitative exercise program that starts with stretching and flexibility exercises. Performing stretching exercises frequently will increase range of motion and get you ready for a strength training program.

I am working with a client now who is 3 weeks out of mastectomy surgery. Her range of motion is increasing by the day. I am fortunate enough to get to support her in increasing her flexibility, but I'm also watching her empower herself by learning something that she can do to improve her situation and get some control over her cancer. I consider myself very fortunate to be a part of her recovery.

For more information about rehabilitative exercise, go to http://movingonfromcancer.com/ Advice about exercise will vary depending on what procedure has been performed, and whether a drain has been placed or not. Return to exercise will be the fastest following lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. Usually I allow patients to return to their usual routine within a couple of days provided it is not painful.

If a drain is in place I usually allow arm movements up to the level of the shoulder till the drain comes out (about 7 days). Following drain removal, range of motion is extended and full ROM is generally reached in about 2 weeks. If not, physical therapy would be recommended.

When mastectomy has been performed with reconstruction, the plastic surgeon may have more restrictions on arm movements in the immediate post-op period.

Long term I encourage exercise, both cardio and weight-training. The notion of weight-training causing lymphedema has been debunked. We know that regular cardiovascular exercise improves survival, so my advice would be to lace-up and get moving.

I waitedd the recommended 4 to 6 weeks post-surgery, but I never stopped even during chemo and radioation. I slowed down or cut down on time when I felt at my lowest energy point, but overall, I forced myself to do it everyday. Post surgery, I waited for my surgeon thumbs up an I was back on the bycicle, running and walking, whiever felt best at the time.

I also took the time to see a physiotherapist specialising in pre-ops and post-ops assessment to provide me with different exercise to gain my strength back with the most efficiency. Also, strangely, what helped me most was an osteopath after my mastectomy that lossened my pectoral muscles that were really thight following reconstruction and radiotherapy. In a few treatment, he took care of a lot of pain I have in my arms and shoulders. I waitedd the recommended 4 to 6 weeks post-surgery, but I never stopped even during chemo and radioation. I slowed down or cut down on time when I felt at my lowest energy point, but overall, I forced myself to do it everyday. Post surgery, I waited for my surgeon thumbs up an I was back on the bycicle, running and walking, whiever felt best at the time.

I also took the time to see a physiotherapist specialising in pre-ops and post-ops assessment to provide me with different exercise to gain my strength back with the most efficiency. Also, strangely, what helped me most was an osteopath after my mastectomy that lossened my pectoral muscles that were really thight following reconstruction and radiotherapy. In a few treatment, he took care of a lot of pain I have in my arms and shoulders.