Exercise for the hand after a mastectomy. A complex of therapeutic exercises after breast removal

Surgical removal of the breast due to cancer is a difficult ordeal for the female body. Full recovery after mastectomy requires physical and psychological effort from the patient. Therapeutic exercises play an important role in this complex.

Postmastectomy syndrome

For a speedy return to normal life after surgical treatment breast cancer, a woman must undergo rehabilitation after a mastectomy. In this period an important stage is the prevention of postmastectomy syndrome. The most common complications in women after mastectomy are:

lymphedema;
poor posture, spinal deformity;
pain syndrome, phantom pain;
scar changes;
dysfunction of the shoulder joint;
pain in the neck;
depressive syndrome.

The rehabilitation process after a breast mastectomy should begin immediately after surgery. The attending physician will give recommendations regarding the load, daily routine, and prescribe physical therapy depending on the patient’s condition. Early rehabilitation is the key quick recovery hand mobility, prevention of poor posture, stooping.

A set of exercises, regular loads, a complete diet will allow you to endure the consequences of surgical treatment of the breast with less psycho-emotional experiences.

A depressed and anxious state is typical for patients who have undergone a mastectomy. If necessary, qualified psychological assistance is prescribed during this period, aimed at supporting mental and emotional health. A woman must take responsibility for her health after surgery, fully aware that further health is in her hands.

Preventing lymphedema

After removal of the mammary gland, lymphedema often develops as a result of impaired lymph circulation. At the same time, it decreases muscle tone, mobility of the shoulder joint, pain syndrome develops. It is necessary to take measures to eliminate lymphostasis immediately, preventing the development of lymphedema of the limb.

Physiotherapeutic methods help relieve discomfort and prevent unpleasant complications. These include wearing specially selected compression garments (compression sleeves). Pneumatic compression, mechanical, manual lymphatic drainage alleviate the condition after surgery, promote normal lymph outflow, and reduce swelling.

A modern method of combating lymphostasis is photodynamic and metabolic therapy. Photodynamic treatment involves the use of monochromatic radiation, which has an immunostimulating effect and improves blood flow. The method successfully fights not only lymphedema, but also erysipelas. Metabolic therapy involves the use of antioxidant substances of natural origin.

Vasotonics, diuretics, and drugs that stimulate lymph outflow (benzopyrones) reduce lymphatic edema. They are taken as prescribed by the attending physician.

Advice. Massage is an excellent tool in the fight against lymphedema. It can be performed independently by the woman herself or by a specialist. During massage, blood and lymph circulation improves, and normal lymph flow in the sore limb is normalized.

A salt-free diet containing large amounts of fiber and vitamins helps reduce swelling. You should drink no more than 2 liters of water.

Physical training after mastectomy

After breast mastectomy, gymnastics is mandatory element comprehensive rehabilitation program. Physical exercises help restore pre-operative arm mobility, prevent the development of stoop and spinal curvature, relax overstrained shoulder and neck muscles, and reduce painful sensations. Regular active exercises discipline, give a feeling of a normal, full life, reduce negative perceptions of life, and prevent depressive disorders.

They are starting a special ( therapeutic physical culture) already in the hospital, under the supervision of medical personnel and an instructor. A prerequisite for starting health complex exercise is to warm up the muscles. This tones the muscles, prevents injury, and improves the effectiveness of exercises.

The treatment complex must be performed regularly and in full. It is advisable to set aside a certain amount of time in your daily routine for this type of rehabilitation and strictly adhere to it. The intensity of exercise should gradually increase. If you have difficulty performing therapeutic exercises, you should never quit classes. Having overcome temporary physical difficulties and performing the treatment complex regularly, a woman will recover faster after a major operation. The opportunity to work actively, do what you love, lead healthy image life will have a beneficial effect on the psycho-emotional state of the patient.

While performing the treatment complex, it is necessary to breathe correctly and not hold your breath. This promotes active muscle work, improves nutrition and oxygen supply to tissues, and activates the immune system.

The complex of rehabilitation measures after breast removal also includes swimming (hydrokinesitherapy). This method of rehabilitation is indicated already during the healing of sutures and helps prevent complications such as immobility of the shoulder joint, curvature of the spine, and stoop. Water relaxes muscles shoulder girdle, relieves tension in the neck muscles. Water has a massaging effect and reduces lymphatic swelling. Swimming does not overload joints and ligaments, has a general strengthening effect on the body, and prevents poor posture. For women who have undergone a mastectomy, there are special swimsuits that will allow you to enjoy swimming, feel attractive, and not experience discomfort.

Types of breast reconstruction

A woman who has undergone surgical breast removal needs to understand that successful rehabilitation is the key not only to a quality life, but also to a chance for breast restoration after mastectomy. Wherein we're talking about about surgical restoration of the volume, shape of the breast and nipple-areolar complex.

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is performed using different techniques and in different terms after operation. The choice of type and method of breast reconstruction depends on the size of the tumor to be removed, the wishes of the patient herself, and concomitant diseases. There are various techniques for gland restoration:

using various endoprostheses (implant with silicone gel, permanent expander);
autotransplantation (thoracodorsal transplantation, use of TRAM flap).

Breast reconstruction occurs in several stages and depends on the chosen technique. The reconstruction method is selected individually, taking into account individual characteristics. Plastic surgery on the chest allow women to get rid of the heavy psychological burden due to the loss of female attractiveness, and improve the quality of social and intimate life of patients.

A properly conducted rehabilitation period after breast removal is important for subsequent successful breast reconstruction. Physiotherapy, massage, physical therapy, swimming, balanced nutrition are the basis for starting a new, bright, full life after a serious operation that saved a woman’s life.

According to statistics, every eighth woman on this planet can get breast cancer. This disease can be fatal if left untreated.

In addition to cancer, a woman’s breasts are susceptible to other diseases of a tumor nature:

fibroadenomas;
papillomas;
cysts.

All of them are treated with:

chemotherapy;
radiation therapy;
folk remedies.
mastectomy.

Consequences of mastectomy

A mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove tumors that affect the breast tissue. There are several types of mastectomy:

The first two types of mastectomy are used quite rarely: in the most advanced cases of infiltrative cancer and its relapses.

The last two are used much more often, as women do not want to be left without breasts.

That is why scientists are busy developing more gentle methods of treating breast cancer, and doctors often offer a course of radiation therapy before removal. The fact is that after irradiation the tumor is significantly reduced, this allows you to choose a more gentle type of mastectomy.

It’s good if the course of radiation therapy is completed and the tumor has decreased to an insignificant size, or the disease was detected in time and the tumor was removed using gynecomastia, then rehabilitation will not take much time. It will be necessary to avoid heavy loads and use various ointments so that the scars heal faster. When more stringent methods were used to treat breast cancer, patients need more time to recover after surgery, as a lot of complications can arise:

During rehabilitation, you need to perform special exercises. Sometimes massage courses may be prescribed. The doctor selects a set of exercises for the patient. They are designed to stretch and strengthen pectoral muscles, acceleration of blood and lymph circulation. In addition, exercises help improve overall well-being, straighten your posture, and eliminate problems with mobility of the shoulder joint, if necessary.

Therapeutic gymnastics and massage

Exercise therapy – therapeutic Physical Culture. Very often prescribed to patients for recovery after various operations, including mastectomy. Gymnastics after a mastectomy may include the following set of exercises:

Each exercise should be performed 6-8 times. You can do more if your health allows. Doctors often prescribe a set of exercises on an exercise bike and swimming in a pool. They are usually performed along with a protein diet that excludes the following foods:

Sweets and confectionery products are significantly limited.

dairy;
fish;
meat (lean varieties of meat and poultry);
vegetables and fruits.

One of the complications that most often affects patients during rehabilitation is lymphostasis of the arm. Its appearance is provoked by radical mastectomy. During this disease, one or two arms swell and increase in size. Lymphostasis often complicates hand movements. Sometimes the disease is complicated by erysipelas.

Disruption of lymph flow is observed in the first days after surgery. To relieve unpleasant symptoms and eliminate the disease, the following is prescribed:

Massage of the affected arm is first done by specialists, then independently, using cooling and warming ointments.

In conjunction with this procedure, they must take special medications and perform a complex physical exercise. Massage promotes the therapeutic effect of venotonics and helps to completely eliminate the disease.

Stroking.
Kneading.

Before performing a massage, the sore hand should be smeared with medicinal gel and held in an upright position.

Other methods of breast reconstruction

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is not only gymnastics and massage. After surgery, women want to restore the attractive appearance of their breasts. To do this, first of all, you need to stretch the skin on it. Remedies for stretching the skin of the chest:

Implants are available in silicone and saline:

Silicone implant. Maximizes the resemblance of breasts. Implanted under the skin, it is not at all different from a real mammary gland.
Saline implant. The silicone rubber shell is filled with saline solution. Breasts with such a prosthesis always have a rounded shape, sometimes they can shrink, so it is easy to distinguish it from a real mammary gland. But the cost of such an implant is cheaper, and rupture does not pose a danger to the owner.

If a mastectomy was performed without preserving the skin of the nipple, then a tattoo is drawn on the chest, simulating the areola and nipple.

If you follow all the doctor’s instructions, rehabilitation after breast cancer treatment goes much faster. Recovered women will be able to return to their normal lifestyle, forgetting about the illness forever.

After completing courses that include massage, drug treatment, exercise therapy, patients usually completely get rid of the disease, although symptoms may arise. side effects in the form of lymphostasis or erysipelas. But, unfortunately, lymphostasis is not the biggest problem that arises after cancer treatment with surgery.

The methods listed above are very effective for physical recovery after cancer treatment, but what to do if the patient has a hard time psychologically, since almost the entire mammary gland was removed? Immediately after removal of most of the mammary gland, a woman often needs the help of a specialist, as various psychological disorders, depression, and an inferiority complex occur. And this is not surprising.

After all, she remains disabled and feels discomfort from an aesthetic point of view, and therefore in communication with the opposite sex, which significantly reduces the chances of getting married and having a child, if this has not happened yet.

After surgical recovery and visits to a psychologist, exercise therapy and massage, the patients’ condition returns to normal, they can again live a full life: build relationships, get married, and experience the joy of motherhood. It should be noted that pregnancy and childbirth are not only the best prevention breast cancer, but also the best method physiological and psycho-emotional recovery of a woman after an illness.

The process of rehabilitation and recovery after breast mastectomy depends on many factors: the general physical and psychological condition of the patient, the severity of the operation, qualified treatment,

from timely started therapeutic exercises (therapeutic gymnastics) and special exercises.

The roles of special gymnastics and proper physical exercise, and after the open wound has healed, also the role of swimming, are very great and important. Rehabilitate without regular treatment - health-improving exercises almost impossible. And the sooner after mastectomy you start therapeutic exercises, the better. You just need to understand that the load should increase gradually, but you should not give yourself any concessions in the regularity of exercise. Below are described practical exercises Exercise therapy that develops hand mobility, relieves pain and swelling.

A set of therapeutic and gymnastic exercises after mastectomy.

All of the gymnastic exercises described below should be repeated 5-10 times, depending on how long ago the operation was performed and your physical condition. The load increases gradually. With a bilateral mastectomy, all exercises can be done either with one hand alternately or with both hands simultaneously.

1. Take a sitting position. Place your hands on your knees, palms down. Clench and unclench your fingers into a fist, then relax.
2. Sitting position. Place your hands on your knees, palms down. Turn your palms up, then down, without straining your fingers.
3. Sitting position. Extend your arms to the sides and lower them down. Repeat slowly, without straining too much.
4. Take a sitting position. Place your hands against your shoulders. Raise your elbows forward, then lower them down, without lifting your hands from your shoulders. Repeat slowly. When lifting, inhale; when lowering, exhale.

A few days after mastectomy surgery, add the following gymnastic exercises:

Below is a well-known video tutorial on performing physical therapy exercises after a mastectomy from Vyacheslav Nagnibid and a detailed text description of this video. This serving option gymnastics complex with video material, will most clearly explain the principles and sequence of exercises.

5. Take the starting position standing. Tilt towards the removed breast. Swing your hand forward and back from the side of the operation, without straining and gradually swinging the amplitude of your swings.
6. The position of the body is sitting or standing. Alternately tense your arms pressed to your body, then relax.
7. The position of the body is sitting or standing. Raise your arms forward on the side of the operation, spread them to the sides, then lower them down. The shoulder should not rise
8. The position of the body is sitting or standing. Take turns doing circular movements in the shoulders - now forward, now back. Raise your elbows higher when moving.
9 Take a position either sitting or standing in front of a mirror. Slowly raise your arm on the operated side. During the exercise, you can support the hand on the sore side with your healthy functional hand.
10. Take a standing position with the operated side facing the wall. Raise and extend your sore arm as far as possible along the wall, then smoothly move it upward.
11. Take the starting position sitting or standing, with your arms down. Connecting your fingers behind your back, try to reach your shoulder blades with them without tilting your head.

12. Take a sitting or standing position with your fingers clasped behind your back. Without bending over, slowly bring and spread your shoulder blades.
13. Accept initial position sitting, the sore arm is placed on the table, palm down. Slowly, with tension, alternately turn your hand with your palm up, then down.
14. Take the starting position sitting or standing in front of the mirror. Raise your sore arm up, bending it at the elbow, then moving your elbow to the side. Then, without tilting your head, perform movements that imitate combing your hair.
15. Take the starting position while sitting, placing your hands on your knees, take them in your hands, gymnastic sticks, about half a meter long, lowering them down. Slowly lift the gymnastic poles up, while elastically bending backwards. Then lower it down.
16. Take the starting position while sitting, lowering your arms, holding the gymnastic stick by the ends. Slowly lift the stick up and place it behind your back. Then return to the starting position.
17. Take a sitting position, with your hands on your knees, holding half-meter sticks lowered down in both hands. Raise the gymnastic sticks up and lean towards your healthy side. At the same time, make sure that the tilt goes only to the side, and not forward. Then straighten up and lower the exercise poles down.
18. Standing position, legs apart. Turn your torso towards the direction of surgery. Lean back and slowly move your affected arm to the side and back. Return to the starting position.
19. Take the starting position standing, with your back to the wall. Raise your arms to the sides, pressing them firmly against the wall for two to three seconds. Then lower it.
20. Take the starting position sitting or standing. Slowly, with noticeable effort, bring your hands to your shoulders. Also slowly, but now relaxing, lower them down.
21. Take your starting position on a chair with your hands on your knees. Straighten your shoulders and bend slightly. In this position, move your elbows back. Relax. Return to the starting position of the exercise.
22. Take the starting position while sitting. Without straining, raise your arms up and inhale. Exhale as you lower. Repeat.

This video complex gymnastic exercises- Exercise therapy is not the only one. There are other methods, including those with video materials. You can successfully choose any of them to help you. All of them are aimed at ensuring a speedy recovery of the arm after breast mastectomy surgery. In addition to gymnastic exercises in recovery, swimming has proven itself well due to its specific movements.

Caring for our little feathered friends - the birds - will give you the moral support you need for recovery. "Titmouse Day" will give you a little joy and smiles.

Gymnastics after a mastectomy is one of the mandatory conditions rehabilitation period. Its implementation is required to restore mobility and normal functioning of the arm from which surgery was performed to remove a breast cancer tumor.

Physiotherapy exercises are also necessary to prevent spinal curvature and stooped posture, which often develop after surgery.

After breast cancer surgery, one of the most common complications is dysfunction of the arm and shoulder on the side where the mastectomy was performed. In order to restore their previous mobility, the patient needs to begin performing physical therapy exercises as soon as possible.

At first, the hand, of course, will hurt and the woman may feel that she is not able to do exercises. However, under no circumstances should you give up - you need to overcome yourself and boldly take on the exercises. Otherwise, the former mobility of the hand may not return naturally at all.

Since a mastectomy involves removing a cancerous tumor along with the mammary gland, many women feel psychological discomfort after the operation. They bend their backs and lower their shoulders so that the absence of breasts is not so noticeable. As a result of these actions:

The spine is curved and a hump may appear on the back.
Constant slouching leads to muscle strain and severe pain in the shoulders, arms, and back of the head.
Over time, the chest becomes deformed and back diseases develop.

Exercise therapy after mastectomy also serves to prevent curvature of the back and slouching of the shoulders.

Gymnastics after removal of the mammary gland and lymph nodes is necessary to prevent the development of edema, which appears due to deterioration of lymph outflow in the operated area. In some cases, lymphostasis develops into an irreversible process. Exercise improves blood and lymph circulation, preventing the formation of stagnation.

What types of loads are contraindicated?

Exercises after a mastectomy are prescribed after the stitches are removed. Until this moment, the hand cannot be loaded. In the first two days after the operation, it is even forbidden to lift it up.

During the rehabilitation period, a woman should not lift weights or engage in sports that pose a risk of injury to her arm. Training in which falls, collisions, blows are possible full recovery not recommended.

Prohibited sports include:

Fight.
Karate.
Ice skating, roller skating, skiing.
Jumping from heights.
Lifting workouts heavy weight etc.

In addition, visiting the pool is contraindicated for two months after surgery.

Treatment after surgery to remove a cancerous tumor along with the mammary gland necessarily includes exercises to restore mobility of the arm and shoulder joint.

The course of gymnastic training is determined by a doctor and takes place under his supervision. The duration of exercise therapy depends on:

Degree of loss of hand function after mastectomy.
Patient's age.
Prognosis for recovery.
General health of the patient.

For the success of the process and complete restoration of the motor function of the limb, it is necessary to adhere to the basic rules:

Start training immediately after your doctor prescribes it.
Do exercises regularly, without missing days of classes.
Try to repeat the movements exactly and do them correctly, even if it requires some effort.
It is better to do fewer exercises, but in compliance with all the rules and techniques.
Movements should be soft, smooth, gradual.
Before you start basic gymnastics, you must do exercises to warm up your muscles.
When not training, try to maintain an even posture and avoid slouching.
Don't quit classes if something doesn't work out. In this case, it is recommended to seek help from a rehabilitation center, where therapy will take place under the supervision of a specialist.

Therapeutic exercises, in addition to health benefits, are important for maintaining the psychological state of a woman who has undergone surgery. Muscle tone improves and the patient begins to feel healthy and more confident.

Exercises after breast removal must begin with warming up the muscles. Firstly, this is necessary to prepare the body for subsequent loads and prevent injuries, damage to ligaments and tendons. Secondly, such exercises prevent the appearance of swelling in the operated area.

After warming up, the main physical exercises will be much easier to do than without it.

Warming up algorithm:

Sit down, put your hands on your knees, try to clench your fingers into a fist as tightly as possible, then unclench your hand, relax, repeat 5-7 times.
The starting position is sitting, arms bent at the elbows, fingers relaxed: turn your palms upside down, then smoothly raise and lower your palms 7-10 times.
Place your hands on your shoulders and smoothly raise and lower your elbows, repeat 7-10 times.
Press your hands to your body, then smoothly raise and lower them, repeat 7-10 times.

After finishing the warm-up, you need to move on to the main complex.

Water aerobics is very effective method rehabilitation of girls and women after mastectomy. It helps restore mobility to the arms and shoulder joints, helps eliminate swelling, and prevents the development of lymphostasis.

Water procedures are very effective in combating cervical osteochondrosis, which appears in 90% of patients who have undergone a mastectomy. After just a few sessions, pain in the back, cervical and thoracic regions will begin to subside. Your posture will become straighter and your gait will become much more confident.

Before training in water, you must do a set of exercises to warm up your muscles.

Basic water aerobics procedures include:

Jumping in the water.
Lunges.
Running in the water.
Repulsion.
Stretching movements.

Exercise type	Description
Jumping	Jumping is one of the most difficult exercises. They must be performed very carefully to avoid injury. During the first lessons you should not jump high. Step by step movements: 1 — take the starting position: slightly spread your feet, bend your arms and legs; 2 - squat down a little and push off from the bottom, making a jump; 3 - during the jump you need to help yourself with your hands, point your body up, pull your knees to your chest.
Hand rotations	Drawing the number eight with your hands in the water helps to develop the shoulder joints and chest area well. To perform the exercise you need to stand straight, slightly bent lower limbs, spread your arms slightly, while leaving them under water. Then you need to slowly rotate your hands in the water, following the clockwise direction, and then counterclockwise, as if drawing a figure 8.
Repulses	To strengthen of cardio-vascular system It is useful to perform push-off. To do this, you need to stand up straight, spread your legs wide and bend your knees (your hands are in the water). Then close your palms and push the water alternately to the right and then to the left. You only need to use your hands Bottom part the body must remain motionless.

Stretching procedures will help restore elasticity to the muscles of the chest, entire back and neck. A set of stretching exercises looks like this:

Spread your legs wide apart, bend slightly. Move your right hand to the side and lift it up, helping yourself with the other limb. Pull your body along with your arm until you feel pain on the right side. Return to the starting position and repeat the exercise in the other direction. It is important that during the training process the body is level, does not bend back and forth, but only stretches to the side.
The starting position is the same. Raise right hand up and put it behind your back. Pull your palm slightly back and down, kneading the shoulder. Stop exercising if you feel pain or tension in your muscles.
Spread your feet slightly, arms are lowered into the water and slightly bent. Smoothly raise your arm and stretch it forward, while a slight muscle tension should be felt in the neck and chest area. When returning to the original stance, try to raise chest higher.

In the first days of training, the range of movements should not be large. In the following days it must be gradually increased.

Starting position – legs slightly apart, body straight, arms pressed at the seams. Next, the following movements are performed in turn:

Slightly strain the arm muscles, then relax. You need to stay in the tension phase for at least 3-4 seconds.
Straighten your arm in front of you, then move it to the side and lower it. When stretching, inhale, when lowering, exhale.
The hands are placed on the shoulders, and circular movements are smoothly carried out in a clockwise direction - then counterclockwise.
Place your wrists behind your back and slowly stretch your shoulder blades back.
Hands down, alternately make circular movements with the shoulder joint, first in a clockwise direction - then counterclockwise.
While sitting or standing, try to raise your arm from the operated side. During the first lessons, you can help her with your other hand.
Tilt your body to the side of the operated side, stay in this position for a couple of seconds and return to the starting position. When bending, exhale; when straightening, inhale.
Lean your back against the wall, raise your arms and try (as far as possible) to spread them to the sides.
With your back against the wall, you should try to raise your arm on the operated side up and stay in this position for a little while. Each time you should try to reach with this hand a little higher than in the previous lesson (you can make marks on the wall to visualize the result).

A week or two after training, you are allowed to complicate the task and conduct training using weights - a stick, dumbbells. Together with such equipment, you can perform exercises for raising your arms, moving them to the side, or placing them behind your back. The possibility of using such additional loads should be discussed with your doctor.

Final part

At the end of your workout, you need to relax. The purpose of this stage is to relax the muscles, restore breathing, and calm down. In order for the muscles to become toned, tension exercises must be alternated with relaxation.

Algorithm for performing a relaxing procedure:

Stand up straight, straighten your shoulders, and you need to breathe as deeply and measuredly as possible.
Bend over, lower your arms and relax.
Inhaling, raise your upper limbs to the top, exhaling - lower them, keep your breathing deep and measured.

Development of deep, correct breathing very important for effective rehabilitation and recovery.

Gymnastics for the arm after breast removal is a mandatory part of the recovery process. It is necessary to eliminate muscle soreness upper limb from the operated side. Moreover, this effective method prevent the development of lymphostasis and.

To ensure that the functions of the arm and shoulder joint are fully restored as soon as possible, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

Perform exercises under the supervision of a doctor and inform him of any changes in your condition.
Exercise regularly for the time prescribed by your doctor. If something doesn’t work out, this is not a reason to quit the procedure. In such cases, you can contact professional trainer for further advice.
Do the exercises twice a day: start with 10-15 minutes, gradually increasing the time to 30-35 minutes.
Make all movements smoothly and slowly, no jerks.
Increase the amplitude gradually.
With each subsequent lesson, try to hold the positions of the outstretched arm up and to the sides longer and try to reach higher.
Do not overdo it, do not allow severe pain to occur.

When a woman is diagnosed with a malignant tumor of the mammary gland, sarcoma, or purulent processes, a mastectomy is prescribed - partial or complete removal of the mammary gland. The rehabilitation phase, which includes exercises and restorative techniques to avoid complications such as lymphedema, plays an important role in the recovery phase.

Rehabilitation period

Rehabilitation in the postoperative stage contributes to:

healing of tissues in a shorter period;
preventing possible complications.

Several factors influence successful rehabilitation after breast cancer removal and recovery.

Among them:

general and psychological condition of the patient;
the complexity of the surgical intervention;
quality of medical care;
timeliness of classes gymnastics exercise therapy and special exercises.

It is important to follow all procedures prescribed by doctors and take prescribed medicines. Then the rehabilitation period will go faster and smoother.

During this time, the following recommendations should be followed:

High-quality care for the operated part.
Hand massage performed by a specialist.
Use of necessary decongestant medications.
Use of physiotherapeutic procedures.
Performing special physical training complexes.

Started immediately correct exercises for the arm after mammary gland removal is the main guarantee of a full rehabilitation process.

The role of gymnastics in the recovery process

Gymnastics after breast mastectomy, including properly selected exercises, plays a major role in the rehabilitation process. It is difficult to achieve final and complete rehabilitation by refusing to perform therapeutic exercises.

Reluctance to use necessary exercises after a mastectomy will cause complications:

incorrect posture;
depression;
muscle strain, causing pain in the shoulder, arm, and back of the head.

To avoid these complications, women should start exercising while still in the hospital.

Set of exercises

The exercises used for successful rehabilitation are divided into three stages:

Warm-up – exercises that increase muscle tone and prepare the body for more high loads. Warming up is an important and mandatory component of the gymnastics complex; without it, the body may malfunction, slowing down the healing process. Exercises after breast removal, aimed at warming up, include about 4 simple exercises.
The main gymnastics complex after mastectomy.
Conclusion – relaxation exercises with breathing restoration.

Warming up

It is better to start exercises with a warm-up, preparing the muscles for exercise. When the body is stressed from the very beginning, you can apply more harm than good.

This part of the exercises for the arm after a mastectomy is performed while sitting, 5 - 7 times:

The fingers of the hands located on the knees are clenched and unclenched with force into a fist, followed by relaxation.
Without straining your fingers, pull your palms up for a couple of seconds.
Raise your elbows forward and up. The hands are placed on the shoulders.
Hands up, to the sides, and down.

At the end of this stage, take a break, take several deep breaths and exhalations.

Main part

The main stage of gymnastics for the arm after removal of the mammary gland consists of exercises performed standing or sitting, repeated 4-8 times.

The order of execution is as follows:

Hands are pressed to the body for a couple of seconds and relax.
The arm on the operated side is extended forward, to the side, and lowered. Shoulder joint doesn't rise.
Shoulder circles with high elbows.
The fingers are connected at the back into a “lock”, reaching towards the shoulder blades. Keep your shoulders and head straight.
The hands are clasped behind the back. By moving the shoulders, the shoulder blades spread and retract without bending forward. When the shoulder blades move apart, inhale; when the shoulder blades arch, exhale.
Tilt while simultaneously swinging your arm back and forth in the operated direction.
Turn towards the operated chest with a backward tilt. At the same time, the arms are moved back and to the side. When turning - inhale, when returning to the starting position - exhale.

Final part

The last stage is relaxing and restorative breathing. The exercises are repeated at least 5 times.

The following actions are performed:

Standing up straight, you need to turn your shoulders with a deep breath and exhale.
Low bend with arms hanging freely.
Elbow abduction with a slight bend while sitting. Deflection is accompanied by inhalation, relaxation by exhalation.
Raising your arms as you inhale and lowering them as you exhale.

To make gymnastics more effective, use the following recommendations for its implementation:

During exercise therapy classes after breast surgery, the entire complex is performed slowly, with an increase in the range of movements and the number of repetitions.
Classes are performed with the simultaneous participation of both hands, or with their alternation.
Immediately after breast removal, do 11-15 exercises with gradual increase their quantities.

Massage

Massage after a mastectomy is needed to accompany a full set of exercises and should be performed even after discharge from the hospital. It is possible to use lymphatic drainage, compression, vacuum or pneumatic massage. An important condition during this procedure is the presence of a medical professional.

It is important to massage at regular intervals and not constantly.

Classes should be carried out immediately after surgery. Despite the complexity of performing the complex, the severity and pain, exercise therapy after mastectomy cannot be neglected.

Rules that, if followed, will make it easier to achieve the desired results in gymnastics classes after breast removal:

Exercise after a mastectomy should take place without skipping.
Mandatory implementation of the complex, despite the difficulties.
Gradual increase in loads (only with prior consultation with a specialist).
Exercise until the range of motion returns to the previous level.
Avoid fast movements.

Video

Watch how to do gymnastics after a mastectomy in the video, where the instructor will show in detail all the necessary exercises.

Below you can see another one exercise therapy complex after mastectomy on video.