Lymphedema is a condition during which a blockage occurs in your lymphatic system. The fluid in your lymphatic system begins to build up, causing swelling in your extremities. This swelling may be present in one or all of your extremities. Lymphedema can impede you in many of your daily activities, including weight training and other types of exercise.
Causes
Lymphedema may be caused by genetic factors, surgical damage, cancer, radiation therapy and infection. Lymphedema caused by genetic factors is known as primary lymphedema. According to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, primary lymphedema is more common in women.
Symptoms
Lymphedema manifests itself through swelling of an area of your limb. The swelling rangers from hardly noticeable to doubling in size. The swelling is usually accompanied by decreased range of motion, aches, thickening of skin and frequent infection of the affected area. In some cases swelling is so severe that the affected limb is unusable.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your physician will diagnose lymphedema after ruling out other possible causes of swelling. MRI, computerized tomography, radionuclide imaging and Doppler ultrasound assist in diagnosing lymphedema. Lymphedema is treated with a variety of methods. These methods include exercise, compression garments, massage, wrapping the swollen limb and pneumatic compression. The combination of these methods is known as complete decongestive therapy.
Lymphedema and Weight Training
For many years lymphedema sufferers were discouraged from engaging in strenuous exercise such as weight lifting. They were discouraged from lifting objects heavier than 15 lbs. A study conducted in 2009 suggests that weight lifting is safe for lymphedema sufferers, provided safety precautions are taken. Before training, a person should have had one or less flare-ups of infection in the past three months, well-fitting compression garments should be worn while exercising and weight progression should be done extremely slowly. Consult your physician before starting weigh training and stop if your symptoms change for longer than a week.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Health: Lymphedema
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 16th Edition"; Lawrence Madoff, James Macguire, Kenneth Brandt, Bruce Gillaind, Scott Thaier; 2005
- National Lymphedema Network: Weightlifting and Lymphedema
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