Exercises FollowingBreast Surgery
4. Cross Arm Stretch
•Bringsorearmacrossinfrontofbodyasshown.
•Holdelbowwithoppositearm.
•Gentlypullacrosschestuntilastretchisfelt.
•Holdfor5seconds.
•Relaxandrepeat.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
5. Shoulder Forward Glides on Wall
•Standfacingwall.
•Placeforearmonadoorframe,elbowslightlyhigherthanashoulderlevel.
•Palmshouldbefacinginward.
•Gentlymoveyourarmupalongthewalluntilyoufeelagoodstretchandbreatheinandoutslowly2times
•Returntostartpositionandrepeat.
Special Instructions: Oncethisfeelseasytodo,moveawayfromthewallandreachashighasyoucan.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
6. Shoulder Sideways Glides on Wall
•Standwithsidetowall.
•Placeforearmonadoorframe,elbowatshoulderlevel.
•Moveyourarmupalongthewalluntilyoufeelagoodstretchandbreatheinandoutslowly2times.
•Returntostartpositionandrepeat.
Special Instructions: Oncethisfeelseasytodo,moveawayfromthewallandreachashighasyoucan.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
7. Arm Behind the Back Stretch
•Placesorearmbehindbackasfaraspossible.
•Holdotherarmovershoulderwithtowelasshown.
•Grasptowelwiththesorearm.
•Slowlypullupwardwithyourotherarmuntilastretchisfelt.
•Holdthispositionwhileyoubreatheinandoutslowly2times.
•Returntostartpositionandrepeat.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
8. Walking
•Walkatacomfortablepace.Trytoallowyourarmstoswingasfreelyascomfortallows
Special Instructions: Progressyourwalkingtimeasyouareable.
Perform 1 set of 10 minutes, once a day.
PHASE 2 EXERCISES (DRAINS OUT)
1. Chest Stretch – Lying down
•Lieonbackwithatowelroll2-3inchesthickplacedalongyourspinebetweenyourshoulderblades.
•Feetcanbeuponawallorkneesbentwithfeetonthefloor.
•Moveyourarmsoutfromsidesat90degrees,gentlyallowshoulderstomovetowardfloor.
•Holdthispositionfor5minuteswhilefocusingonslow,deepbreaths.
Special Instructions:Ifthisistoodifficultatfirst,stretchwithoutthetowelroll
Perform 1 set of 5 minutes, three times a day
2. Shoulder Lifts – Lying down
•Lieonyourbackwithyourarmonyourside
•Slowlyraisearmoveryourheadasfaraspossible,keepingyourelbowstraight.
•Moveyourarmasfarbackascomfortallowsandthenreturntostartandrepeat
Special Instructions: Ifyoucannotliftarmwhilekeepingelbowstraight,tryusingyourotherarmtoassistthesorearm.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day
3. Shoulder Rotation - Hands at Neck
•Liedownwithyourhandsbehindyourhead.
•Pointelbowstowardceiling
•Slowlyspreadyourelbowsapartasfarasyoucanuntilyoufeelagoodstretchandslowlybreatheinandout2times
•Returntostartpositionandrepeat.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.Seton.net
Goodhealth.com
Afteryoursurgeryforbreastcancer,itiseasytogetfrustratedwithyour shouldermotion.These instructionswillhelpguideyoutogetbetterasquicklyaspossible.Youcanstarttheexercisesimmediatelyaftersurgery.Ifyouhavedrainsinplace,beginthePhase1exercisesand then move on to Phase 2 once the drains are removed. If youdonothavedrains,youcanbeginwiththePhase2exercises.Asyoupracticetheseactivities,youwillseegreatimprovementsinyourabilitytomoveyourarm.
General Guidelines:
•Whenmovingyourarmitisnormaltofeela“stretching”sensationunderyourarm.
•Tinglingandsorenessonthebackofyourarmandchestwallisacommonexperiencebecauseofirritatednerveendings.
•Exerciseeverydayandyouwillregainflexibilityinyourarm.
•Deepbreathinghelpswiththehealingprocess,sopracticetakingdeepbreathsthroughouttheday.
•Participateinlightactivitieslikedressingandbathingwhenyoucanmoveyourarmwithoutfeelingsharppain.
•Walkfor5–10minutes,onetotwotimesadayduringthefirstweekaftersurgery.Progressto10–15minutesonceadayduringthesecondweek.
•Continuewiththeseexercisesuntilyourfullshouldermotionreturnsinabout1–2months.
•Followyourdoctor’sliftingrestrictionsascloselyaspossible.
•Ifyounoticeunusualswelling,redness,ortendernesscontactyourdoctor.
•Ifyoucontinuetohavedifficultymovingyourarmorusingitwithnormaldailyactivitiesaskyourdoctorformorespecificexercisesorforareferraltoalicensedphysicaltherapist.
PHASE 1 EXERCISES (DRAINS IN)
1. Thoracic diaphragm breathing
•Lieonback.
•Placerighthandoverabdomen,lefthandoverthemidchest.
•Breatheinslowlyanddeeply,throughthenose.
•Theabdomenshouldriseandallowthechesttoslowlyexpand.
•Breatheoutslowlythroughthemouth.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
2. Elbow Flex/Extension
•Youcandothislyingdownorsitting.
•Beginwitharmatside,elbowstraight,palmup.
•Bendelbowupward.
•Returntostartingpositionwithyourelbowfullystraight.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
3. Shoulder Rolls
•Dothisexerciselyingdown.
•Rotateyourshoulderbackwardslowlyinacircle,repeat5times.
•Rotateyourshoulderforwardslowlyinacircle,repeat5times.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
4. Shoulder Rotation
•Lieonbackwitharmslightlyawayfromside
•Bendelbowtoabout90degrees
•Rotatearmoutwardsasfaroutasyoucanthenrotateyourarminwardsothatyourhandisrestingonyourstomach.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
5. Shoulder Blade Pinches
•Sitorstandwitharmsatsides.
•Squeezebothshoulderbladestogether,breatheingentlyandexhale.
•Holdfor5seconds
•Relaxandrepeat
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
6. Shoulder Shrugs
•Candolying,sittingorstanding.
•Slowlyraiseshouldersupwardstowardsears.
•Returnslowlytostartingposition.
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
7. Lateral Shoulder Wall Push
•Standwithyoursidetowall,elbowatyourside.
•Bendelbowto90degrees.
•Placeapillowbetweenyourarmandwall.
•GENTLYpushupperarmagainstwall.
•Holdexercisefor3seconds
Perform 1 set of 5 repetitions, three times a day.
8. Walking
•Walkatacomfortablepace.Trytoallowyourarmstoswingasfreelyascomfortallows
Perform 1 set of 5 minutes, twice a daySeton Healthcare Family offers rehabilitation therapies for breast cancer patients and for other cancer diagnoses. For more information please call 512-324-1875.
