Rehabilitation after mastectomy is the only way to regain full physical fitness and mental balance. The aim of rehabilitation is to improve the condition and general well-being of the patient. However, only conscious and correct physiotherapy will allow the patient to recover. Check what rehabilitation after mastectomy is and how to live after breast removal.

Rehabilitation after mastectomycan be performed both in the hospital and at home. In both cases, moderation is the rule of thumb. During exercise, you should gradually and gently load the body and place the limbs high to counteract the formation of swelling and support the mobility of the hands.

Aims of rehabilitation after mastectomy

  • increasing the range of motion in the joints of the limbs,
  • increasing the strength of the muscles of the hands,
  • preventing or removing limb edema,
  • preventing inflammation resulting from tissue swelling (so-called lymphoedema),
  • prevention of posture defects and their possible correction,
  • improvement of the body's efficiency.

However, the most important goal of rehabilitation is to restore the patient's mental balance, so that she accepts her body and adapts to the new lifestyle.

Exercise up to 3 days after your mastectomy

The exercises that are recommended for 3 days after your mastectomy should be repeated 3 times a day. Do one exercise approx. 15 times. Remember to take a 5-second break after completing each exercise and shake your limb lightly.

  • exercise 1 : clench your hand into a fist, hold for 3 seconds, relax your hands;
  • exercise 2 : take the ball in your hands, hold it in your hands, hold it for 3 seconds, relax;
  • exercise 3 : bend and then straighten the limb at the elbow (point the hand towards the shoulder);
  • exercise 4 : lie on the bed or mattress, straighten both arms, then move them sideways and up.

Exercise 4 days after mastectomy

We perform this type of exercise from 4 to 6 days after the procedure. Each exercise should be performed approximately 15 times, remembering about a 5-second break after each exercise.

The starting position to be takeneach exercise: sit on a chair with your legs firmly on the floor.

  • exercise 1 : circling the arms back;
  • exercise 2 : place both hands on your elbows and lift them up;
  • exercise 3 : put your arms out in front of you, move them to the side and lift them up;

Exercise 7 days after mastectomy

A week after the mastectomy, exercises can be performed with a cane that will allow us to regulate muscle tension. We perform each exercise 10 times.

  • exercise 1 : starting position: grab the cane with both hands and sit on the chair with your back against its backrest. raise your outstretched arms up. Hold this position for 3 seconds. Come back to the starting position.
  • exercise 2 : starting position is the same as in exercise 1. During this exercise, try to make as many circles as possible from yourself and inwards.
  • exercise 3 : Starting position: straddle the chair facing its back. Straighten your back and pinch your shoulder blades down. Put your hands back loosely while holding the cane. Then try to bring the cane closer to your straight back. Gently toss your elbows back. Come back to the starting position.
  • exercise 4 : lie on your back. Reach your arms up as if you are boxing someone. Keep the limbs up for 5 seconds.
  • exercise 5 : stand up straight and stretch your arms out to the side so that they are at a 90-degree angle. Then bend your elbows and cross your hands at the height of your shoulder blades on your back.

Rehabilitation massage after mastectomy

Lymph nodes are removed during breast amputation, which may hinder the proper drainage of lymph (lymph) from the limb. In order to prevent possible swelling or inflammation, special massages should be performed to facilitate the drainage of the lymph.

This type of massage should be performed twice a day for 10 minutes. Remember that we always massage ourselves, so at the beginning we gently press the fingers and slowly move to the shoulder.

  • rest your hand on the wall so that it is straight;
  • grasp the raised hand by the wrist with the hoop grip and move it down lightly, pressing and pressing the skin;
  • finish the massage by patting your hand.

Rehabilitation during sleep

Rehabilitation after mastectomy cannot be limited only to home or hospital physiotherapy. It is also important how we arrange our limbs during sleep. Ideally, the limb should be elevated to facilitate drainage of lymph which can contribute to the condition.flammable.

For this purpose, you can buy special wedges, washers or blocks. Our hands should be placed in height also when we are sitting. Then we put it on the back of a chair or on a desk.

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