An estimated 6.8 million Americans over age 64 suffer from lymphedema or are at risk for developing it, according to a report, "The Incidence of Lymphedema," prepared by patient advocate Robert Weiss for the online support group LymphNotes.com. A key aspect of lymphedema treatment is continuous wearing of compression garments or bandages on limbs swollen by lymphedema. You should wear compression bandages or garments during exercises to protect your lymphedematous limb from further swelling.
Lymphedema Diagnosis
Lymphedema is an illness that exists when the lymph vessels that wind through the body are injured or blocked, causing the permanent swelling of a limb or other body tissue. Lymph vessels carry excess fluid and protein to blood vessels, and lymph nodes trap harmful substances, such as bacteria. Lymphedema has a range of causes, including infections, cancer, radiation and surgery, and can affect people of any age. While your lymphedema is not curable, exercise can reduce your swelling by improving circulation within your lymph system.
Lymphedema Exercises
The National Lymphedema Network has released a paper, "Topic: Exercise," on the latest suggestions for exercise by lymphedema patients. Your exercises will range from remedial exercises that are designed for newly diagnosed lymphedema patients with severe swelling to ordinary exercises and sports that lymphedema patients are encouraged to participate in after their lymphedema swelling has been reduced.
Remedial Lymphedema Exercises
Daily remedial lymphedema exercises are taught to newly diagnosed lymphedema patients by a certified lymphedema therapist as part of a program intended to reduce severe swelling. Your therapist will also do manual lymphatic drainage on your lymphedematous limb. Your therapist will additionally teach you about lymphedema bandaging, special skin and nail care for your lymphedematous limb, and, if appropriate for your medical condition, will have you fitted with a compression garment. Because lymphedema has many different causes, remedial exercises are not identical for every patient. Your remedial exercises will consist of gentle flexibility and stretching motions tailored to your lymphedema. You will be wearing compression bandages during the remedial exercises.
Regular Exercise Routines
The Medical Advisory Committee of the National Lymphedema Network states that lymphedema patients can safely perform regular aerobic and resistive types of exercises, provided that they wear their compression bandages or garments. The organization endorses resistive exercises, such as weight lifting, and aerobic exercises, such as walking, jogging, cycling and swimming. The National Lymphedema Network suggests that if you wish to engage in weight lifting, you will need to rest between sets; avoid continuous gripping of hand weights, equipment and bands; start out with a low level of repetitions; and watch for overuse, swelling and injury to your lymphedematous limb or body tissue.
Exercise Disagreements
There is disagreement among lymphedema health care professionals about appropriate regular exercises and sports. For example, the National Lymphedema Network supports patients engaged in aerobic and resistive exercises, but other health care providers, such as Julie Mangeot Buren, P.T., and Cindy Linton, C.O.T.A., writing for the "Interdisciplinary Journal of Rehabilitation," argue that aerobic exercises can increase heart rate and body temperature, potentially exacerbating lymphedema. They favor water exercise in a swimming pool or walking.
References
- LymphNotes.com: The Incidence of Lymphedema
- National Cancer Institute: Lymphedema
- National Lymphedema Network: Topic: Exercise (PDF)
- PubMed.gov: Decongestive lymphatic therapy for patients with cancer-related or primary lymphedema
- Independence Blue Cross: Decongestive Lymph Therapy
- "The Interdisciplinary Journal of Rehabilitation"; The Role of Exercise; Julie M. Buren, PT, et al., August 2000
