A mastectomy is a surgery that involves the complete or partial removal of the breast tissue and in some cases, removal of part of the muscle of the chest wall. This surgery may be needed on one or both breasts due to breast cancer. A mastectomy is a very invasive procedure that is life altering both physically and emotionally. This surgery can affect movement of your shoulders, arms and chest wall, affecting daily activities such as bathing, combing your hair and even deep breathing. However, simple physiotherapy exercises can help you strengthen your upper body muscles and also tone the abdomen and other areas of the body. Exercise is also important for improving circulation in the body to promote healing. Discuss how soon you can begin these exercises with your doctor.
Step 1
Sit in a firm wooden or plastic chair and hold your hands in front of you with the fingers intertwined. Lift both of your arms slowly up over your head, holding them as straight and high as possible. Bend at your waist to extend your head and arms to the right and then to the left. Repeat five to seven times. This exercise helps to increase movement of your trunk and exercises your abdominal muscles.
Step 2
Lie on your back on a thick exercise mat with your legs bent at the knees and your feet flat on the floor. Clasp your hands behind your head or neck with your elbows pointing upwards. Clench your abdominal muscles as you raise your head slightly and move your elbows slowly down towards the mat. Repeat the exercise five to seven times.
You can also perform this exercise by holding a broomstick over your head and lowering it to your stomach in cycles of 10 to 20 times. These simple exercise helps to improve movement in your shoulders and chest and tone your abs.
Step 3
Lay on your back on an exercise back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the mat. Place your arms down along your sides with your palms flat on the mat. Slowly lift your buttocks off the mat so that your hips and waist are raised up. Hold this position for two seconds or more, return to the starting position and repeat 10 times or more. This exercise helps to tone your abdominal muscles and is a later-stage exercise to perform after you have healed from your mastectomy.
Tips and Warnings
- You may have radiation therapy after your mastectomy. This can cause the skin on your chest to tighten and exercises are required to keep your chest wall, shoulder and arm movement unrestricted. Radiation therapy can affect movement of your shoulders and arms for up to nine months. Other exercises to tone your abs and overall body conditioning include riding a stationary bike slowly, walking on a treadmill and some easy yoga poses that do not jar the body.
- It is very important to talk to your doctors and surgeons about when to begin exercising. You may not be able to perform all exercises until all sutures and drains have been removed or after you have completed radiation therapy. A physiotherapist or occupational therapist can show you how to perform each exercise correctly. You may require a physiotherapist's assistance to perform the exercises after the surgery or if you do not have full use of your arms within four weeks after the mastectomy.
Things You'll Need
- Firm chair
- Thick exercise mat
- Broom stick
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