How do breast cancer patients exercise

Surgery is often used as the main treatment for breast cancer. Generally, a series of functional exercises are required after breast cancer surgery to promote patient recovery. In this process, we should fully understand the patient's postoperative exercise situation and the patient's current functional exercise status of the affected limb. For some patients who do not achieve the expected goals due to insufficient execution of postoperative functional exercises, detailed guidance can be given according to the corresponding steps of postoperative exercises.

The specific method is as follows:

(1) The earlier you exercise, the better. Generally, you should do it every day from the first day after surgery, 3-5 times a day, 5-10 minutes each time, until you feel no fatigue.

(2) On the first or second day of rehabilitation exercise, mainly do finger extension, fist clenching, and wrist flexion exercises. Observe the limbs for swelling, pain, numbness, etc.

(3) On the 3rd or 4th day of rehabilitation, in addition to the above exercises, do elbow flexion exercises. If the affected limb is weak, support the affected wrist with the opposite hand, lift the forearm, and repeat.

(4) On the 5th to 7th day of rehabilitation exercise, the exercise should start from the elbow and gradually progress to the shoulder. That is, use the affected hand to touch the opposite shoulder and the ipsilateral ear. Encourage the patient to brush his teeth, comb his hair, wash his face, etc.

(5) On the 8th day of rehabilitation exercise, the main focus is on shoulder exercises, such as shrugs.

(6) On the 9th to 12th day of rehabilitation, you can practice raising the affected upper limb. At first, use the opposite hand to support the affected elbow and slowly raise it until it is level with the shoulder. Then do the finger wall climbing exercise.

(7) After the 12th day of rehabilitation exercise, the affected upper limb can be moved in the full range of motion. Practice placing the affected palm behind the pillow and starting with the head lowered. Slowly raise the head and gradually move to the head-up and chest-out position.

Precautions for functional exercise after breast cancer surgery:

Functional exercise after breast cancer surgery must be carried out with persistence, planning, purpose, and gradual progress. Do not rush. If you do not follow the standard exercise after surgery, you can follow the above steps and follow the next step. When exercising, be careful to prevent skin strain and tearing, and adjust the intensity and progress according to the situation. Do not perform intravenous infusion and puncture on the affected arm, avoid moving or lifting heavy objects on the affected limb, do not measure blood pressure on the affected side, avoid skin damage, and prevent swelling.