Post-Breast Surgery Exercises
Get in Shape – Gentle Exercises for
after Breast Surgery
After breast surgery, your range of arm and shoulder movement is often restricted.
Depending on the extent of your surgery, you may also feel a pulling sensation
in the underarm area. It’s never too late to improve your mobility and
flexibility - these exercises vary in levels of difficulty but are part of a
widely used exercise program for after breast surgery. Start slowly and gradually
increase the number of repetitions. Check with your medical team before starting
and get on track for a healthier, more active lifestyle!
Make sure to observe the following instructions
when performing exercises after breast surgery:
- Perform exercises slowly – 15 repetitions,
3-4 times per day.
- Some pain is expected and you can use pain
medication if needed.
- Use your arm for daily activities (combing
hair, clasping bra, reaching into cabinets,
etc.)
- PRECAUTIONS: Do not pull beyond the incisional
pain. If there is drainage from the incision
or the incision opens, notify your surgeon.
You can relieve some chest wall tightness with
gentle massage.
Hair
Brushing |
 This
can be started soon after the surgery,
while in hospital. Rest the arm on a
firm surface such as the bedside table
or locker. Keep the head and shoulder
upright and start by brushing hair on
one side upwards and to the side. Gradually
increase to cover the whole head.
|
Hand
Squeezing |
 This
exercise helps to prevent or reduce temporary
swelling in the arm. Take a small rubber
ball or similar object in the palm of
your hand and make a fist around the
ball, squeeze gently and relax. The ball
should be firm enough to have to exert
some pressure but soft enough to give
a little when squeezed.
|
Arm
Circling |
 Rest
the unaffected arm on a firm surface
such as a table or back of a chair and
bend forward at the waist. Allow the
affected arm to hang loosely from the
shoulder and swing backwards and forwards,
from side to side and then in small circles.
Gradually increase the size of the circles
as the arm becomes more relaxed.
|
Bra
Fastening |
 Imitate
the movements used to fasten a bra at
back; stand with the feet apart for balance
and extend the arms to shoulder level.
Slowly bend the arms from the elbows,
bringing the hands closer to the body
to join behind the back. Raise the hands
and repeat.
|
Towelling |
 Hold
a scarf or towel stretched diagonally
along the back, one hand at shoulder
level and the other at hip level. Imitate
a back drying motion, moving the hand
from shoulder to head and lower. Change
hands and repeat in reverse so that the
other arm is higher. The towel should
be long enough to fully straighten one
arm.
|
Wall
Climbing |
 This
exercise helps to improve forward motion
in the shoulder. Stand close to and facing
a wall, with the feet apart for balance.
Place hands flat against the wall close
to shoulder level and gradually try to
raise hands higher up the wall. Slowly,
bring the hands back to shoulder level
and repeat.
Mark the wall at the highest point
reached each day. Sometimes it may
be hard to reach the previous day’s
mark – don’t be discouraged,
simply try again later in the day. |
Door
Pulley |
 This
exercise helps to improve forward motion
in the shoulder. Hang a rope or cord
over the top of an open door. Sit on
the floor with the door held firmly between
the legs, holding the lower end of the
cord in the hand on the side of your
surgery.
Hold the higher end in the other hand.
Gently pull the higher hand down and
raise the lower arm, repeating gradually
and raising a little higher each time
until full stretch has been achieved. |
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