Treatment after chemotherapy should be conservative, applying massages that promote lymphatic drainage, gentle gymnastics exercises, stretching, controlled joint and muscle mobility.
6 de marzo de 2021 (12:00 CET)
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We recovered a large part of the office that, for several years, Alberto Cebollada Kremer, graduate in physical education, specialist in postural hygiene and sports practice, has answered the queries of several of our readers.
The query
After suffering breast cancer, I had a mastectomy and the lymph nodes on my right arm were removed. To regain mobility I am in rehab and this is going great. My problem comes now that I want to start again with the sport, once the chemo is finished, because to avoid the dreaded lymphedema they tell me that no weights or sudden movements, they send me very gentle swimming and an exercise table at home. Can’t I take the mountain bike? And train the 3,000 m of swimming a day giving me an arm? And run? … what do I do then …? That will be fine for older and sedentary women but I’m not like that, and no one can tell me exactly what to do. Nor is there anyone who can translate the risks into the language of sport for me. Of course, I have been prescribed a compression cuff. Could you at least go with a mountain bike, with the ride-type handlebars on greenways and bike lanes, with runs of 30 to 60 km? Without giving me an effort, I must wear the compression cuff.
Answer
Your condition as a result of the surgical removal of the lymph nodes, secondary lymphedema, has a high risk of suffering edema when receiving blows or infections in the arm. This in some cases leads to pictures of elephantiasis (increase in the volume of the limb), skin thickening, limitation of mobility with difficulties in dressing … Treatment should be conservative, apply massages that favor lymphatic drainage, gymnastic exercises smooth, stretching, controlled joint and muscle mobility.
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You must bear in mind that exaggerated muscular efforts can worsen or trigger lymphatic edema, so I recommend you to walk and especially to practice swimming. It is the ideal activity due to the movement of the arms and the muscular contraction and relaxation that is carried out when swimming, which will help to drain; But forget about putting yourself in the cane in series at high intensities, the risk of edema with fatigue is very high.
Treatment
You must find an activity that satisfies your vital cravings for movement but keep in mind that you are starting a new stage in which excessive efforts have no place. There are many other activities that you can practice, find the positive side, putting so much cane into the body is far from the concept of health. Now you will be able to take care of yourself and carry out other activities or at a different pace, and feel very good about yourself, I would even dare to say that you will find yourself better than before. You yourself are the one who is going to answer the question of what activities you will be able to do and which ones not. That is, depending on how your body responds and especially your arm to the efforts, you will decide whether to repeat or better not to do it. Regarding the general orientation for your activities, it is that you carry them out with a health mentality over any other approach.
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Be especially careful and cautious when carrying out your efforts, avoiding friction and trauma. The compression cuff should be worn whenever you do physical activity to promote lymphatic return and as protection. Gentle gymnastics in the water, Pilates, swimming, cycling, hiking … all of them without excesses, you will have no problem to include them in your new lifestyle.
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