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Exercises for faster recovery after breast cancer surgery:
1. Deep breathing exercises
Practicing deep breathing exercises allows you to restore movement in your chest in a slow and relaxed manner. To perform this exercise take a deep breath from the nose and hold for 10 seconds, then slowly exhale from the mouth. Do 10 reps of this exercise. You can also do this while lying down on the bed.
2. Wand exercise
The radiation therapy for breast cancer patients affects the movement of their shoulders. Wand exercise helps in increasing your shoulder flexibility and bringing it back to normal. To perform this exercise, you need to lie down on your back and hold the wand in both hands. Then lift it up, hold it for 5 seconds and slowly bring it down. Repeat this movement at least 10 times.
3. Elbow winging
Again, this exercise will help in the flexibility of your chest and shoulders which are the most affected areas after a breast cancer surgery. Lie down on your back and put your hands behind your head in a way that your elbows form the shape of wings. Then move your elbows up and down in a slow movement. Do 5 sets of each 1-2 minutes.
4. Shoulder blade squeeze
For this exercise, sit in a chair facing straight ahead without resting your back on the chair. Your arms should be at your side with your elbows slightly bent and palms facing downward. Gently squeeze your shoulder blades together in the forward direction and then go back. Stay at each position for 5 seconds and then repeat. Deep breathing while holding this posture helps reduce the swelling after surgery.
