Functional rehab after breast cancer surgery. The purpose of these exercises is to help
regain the full movement of your shoulder. Start these exercises once your drain is removed.
If you do not have a drain, start them four days after your surgery. Things to remember
while doing these exercises. Hold each exercise for 15 to 30 seconds. You should feel a stretch
or pulling feeling, not sharp pain. Repeat each exercise 10 times. Do each exercise 3
times each day. Second set of exercises. Refer to the pamphlet ‘functional rehab after
breast cancer surgery’ for more tips and instructions. In this video you will learn
a set of exercises to do as part of your recovery. Elbow push back, shoulder flexion wall exercises,
shoulder side lifts wall exercises, back climb exercises, forward lifting, lifting to side,
chest wall stretch. Note: If you are having surgery on both sides, skip exercises forward
lifting and lifting to side. Exercise 7 elbow push back. This exercise helps increase the
movement in the front of your chest and shoulders. You can do this exercise sitting or lying
down on your back. Place your fingers behind your head or your upper neck. Spread your
elbows out to the side as far as possible. When you get to the point where you feel a
good stretch (but not pain), take 3 to 5 deep breaths and hold the stretch. Keep your neck
straight and relaxed as you do this. Repeat each exercise 10 times. Do this exercise 3
times each day. You can also do this exercise lying down. Follow the same steps. Exercise
8 Shoulder flexion wall exercise. This exercise helps increase the forward movement of your
shoulder. Try to reach a little higher each time. As you improve, move your feet and body
closer to the wall. To do this exercise, stand facing a wall. Slide or walk your fingers
up the wall as far as possible. When you get to the point where you feel a good stretch
(but not pain), take 3 to 5 deep breaths and hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Return to
the starting position by walking your fingers back down the wall. Repeat each exercise 10
times. Do this exercise 3 times each day. Keep track of how you are doing. For example,
for the wall climbing exercises, reach as high as you can with your unaffected arm.
Mark that point with a piece of tape. This will be the goal. Every week, you can track
how high you can reach for your surgery-side arm with a piece of tape to track your progress.
Exercise 9 Shoulder side lifts wall exercise. Turn sideways with your affected side towards
the wall. Slide or walk your fingers up the wall as far as possible. When you get to the
point where you feel a good stretch (but not pain), take 3 to 5 deep breaths and hold the
stretch for 10 seconds. Return to the starting position by walking your fingers back down
the wall. Try to reach a little higher each time. As you improve, move your feet and body
closer to the wall. Repeat each exercise 10 times. Do this exercise 3 times each day.
Exercise 10 back climb exercise. This exercise helps you improve the movement behind your
back. You need this for activities such as hooking your bra, buttoning up a blouse, or
zipping up a dress. You can do this exercise sitting or standing.
Place your hands behind your back holding your surgery-side hand. Slowly slide your
hands up the centre of your back as far as possible. When you get to the point where
you feel a good stretch (but not pain), take 3 to 5 deep breaths and hold the stretch for
15 seconds. Lower your hands slowly. Repeat each exercise
10 times. Do this exercise 3 times each day. Exercise 11. Forward lifting. This exercise
helps increase the forward movement of your shoulders. Lie on your back and hold a stick
with both hands, palms down and arms shoulder width apart. Keeping your elbows straight,
lift the stick over your head as far as you can. Use your unaffected arm to help lift
the stick until you feel a stretch in your surgery-side arm. Hold the stretch for 3 to
5 deep breaths. Repeat each exercise 10 times. Do this exercise 3 times each day. Try to
reach further back each time you do this exercise. The goal is to reach all the way back. Exercise
12 lifting to side. Lie on your back and hold the stick with noth hands, palms down, and
arms shoulder width a part. Lift the stick up in front of you, move the stick towards
the side you had surgery. When you begin to feel a stretch in your surgery side arm, hold
the stretch for 3 to 5 deep breaths. Repeat each exercise 10 times. Do this exercise 3
times each day. Exercise 13. Chest wall stretch. Stand facing a corner with your toes about
8 to 10 inches from the corner. Bend your elbows and put your forearms on the wall,
one on each side of the corner. Your elbows should be as close to shoulder height as possible.
Keep your arms and feet in place and move your chest toward the corner. You will feel
a stretch across your chest and shoulders. Hold the stretch for 3 to 5 deep breaths.
Repeat each exercise 10 times. Do this exercise 3 times each day. Watch this video as often
as you need. It may take some practice to be able to do these exercises well. Talk to
a member of your health care team if you have questions. You have come to the end of this
video. In this video you learned the second set of functional rehab exercises. These are:
elbow push, shoulder flexion wall exercises, shoulder side lifts wall exercises, back climb
exercises, forward lifting, lifting to side, chest wall stretch.