Lymph Drainage Exercises for Upper Extremity

Nitocris

Hello Ladies,

While surfing on the internet looking for lymph drainage exercises, I found the website of the Ohio State University Medical Centre.  They have an amazing number of documents in the category "Patient Education Materials" and several of them are either specifically for lymphedema or can be very useful for lymphedema.   I am putting a few links below:

1. http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/PatientEd/Materials/PDFDocs/exer-reh/physical/lymph-exercises-upper.pdf   (Lymph drainage exercises for upper extremity)

2. http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patiented/materials/pdfdocs/exer-reh/upper/con-arm.pdf ( Controlling arm swelling)

3. http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patiented/materials/pdfdocs/exer-reh/upper/hnds-fin.pdf  (Hand and finger exercises)

4. http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patiented/materials/pdfdocs/exer-reh/upper/sixpack.pdf  (Sixpack hand exercises)

5.  http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patiented/materials/pdfdocs/exer-reh/upper/man-lymp.pdf (Manual lymphatic drainage - Technique & schedule)

6. http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patiented/materials/pdfdocs/exer-reh/upper/lymph-node.pdf (Exercises after lymph node removal).

Really a great site.  It is so rare to find clear and illustrated exercises for lymphedema. Hopefully, this helps. Let's get that lymph moving!!!

kira66715

These are great--the hand exercises are what I was given after I broke my hand, and I especially like the first pdf and the MLD one and the exercises after lymph node drainage, as they don't have you doing overhead stretching until the last part, and that should wait for 10-14 days.

Great resource. I'd love to get it up on the stepupspeakout site.

So many women are confused on MLD, and this really helps--doesn't fully explain the strokes, but it's a great schematic.

Should we ask the mods to pin this?

Kira 

starbeauty

Gosh...please do... It really helps putt all in an easy to follow plan.

Nitocris

Hi Kira,

What does pin mean?  It would be great if many women could have access to these exercises. 

I found something else while surfing.  It is called Lymphedema MEM kit with all kind of exercises for upper and lower extremity lymphedema.  It is also a great resource.  This document (PDF) is free on the internet. Below is the link. 

http://www.hpr-safetystore.com.au/assets/lymphoedma%20visual%20index.pdf

I found that there is an American firm by the name of VHIKits, selling a software for Lymphedema and it seems to be exactly the same as the first, except their kit costs almost 200.00 USD.Actually, it is a software for therapists.  Here is their link: http://www.vhikits.com/products/collections/Lymphedema/Lymphedema.aspx

I don't know how it works with copyrights for that kind of material, but the MEM kit is free on the internet  (at least for the moment) and accessible to everybody.  Have a look at the first site.  What do you think?

KS1

Nitocris - great site! I would definitely push to get the links pinned. Question - I know that garments/bandages should be worn for exercising, but is this true for ALL exercising, including the finger exercises? What about simple stretches? Or exercises that don't involve the arm at all (e.g., leg lifts)? I like to slip in a few exercises whenever I can (e.g., brushing teeth, showering etc.) KS1

kira66715

Nitocris,

The Australian link is very comprehensive, and is a bit hard to follow without therapist instructions, but provides good information.

They're both great resources. I'd love to make a page at SUSO with links to these--with explanations, and links to the Zuther blog exercises.

Thanks for these, they're very helpful.

Kira 

Nitocris

Kira, 

I am glad these links were helpful.  I keep on looking for more information...  As a matter of fact, I found a new one with a detailed  document about self-massage from the Canadian Breast Cancer Network.

http://www.cbcn.ca/documents/ywc_presentations/(4C)%20Managing%20Lymphedema%20Notes4%20-%20Anna%20Kennedy.pdf  (Self lymphatic massage for arm, breast or trunk lymphedema).  What do you think?

It is also a good daily routine.  To complete the self-massage, I add a few "sweep moves" from the hand to the neck area accompanied by a few deep breaths.

To KS1: I keep my sleeve on all day long, and particularly during exercise (and also stretching).  I noticed that the finger exercises really "mobilize" not only the muscles of the hand but also all the arm muscles and particularly the forearm.  I have done that for a few weeks now and it works so well that I don't even need to put kinesio tape on the back of my hand.  When I have time, I wrap a bandage on top of my sleeve to perform the exercises in order to create more outside resistance.  This re-inforces the muscles' work.

I also bought several balls of different sizes (a  gertie/soft ball, mini foam balls, an "eggserciser"....) and I work with them every day.  The "soft resistance" of the balls promotes the pumping action of the muscles and this works really well for me.

Take care

BeckySharp

Nitrocris--Thanks for all of the good info you have provided!

Nitocris

To BeckySharp,

Thanks for your message.  There are so many of us scattered around the world, it is great to have such a  Forum where we can share information.  The more we learn about every aspect of lymphedema, the better we can "self-manage" and get our lives back.

Sher

I agree Kira that it would be great if all these links could be pinned together in one post. 

kira66715

Binney sent me a video link:

http://www.torontophysiotherapy.ca/services/toronto_lymphedema_treatment.html#lymphedema_video

Do we have this one already? It's a video.

Kira

jtbsmom

Hi,

I noticed some hand swelling in Feb during chemo and when I started radiation in April my rad onc was concerned with the swelling so i found a PT who showed me the massage, and wrapping techniques, and I am in the process of getting a glove and sleeve. The exercise links are very helpful and will ask my PT about them this week.

Nitocris

Hi,

I did not have that link, I've added it to my Lymphedema Library. Thanks.

Is there a special category on the lymphedema Forum where to post or find videos?    I found a few interesting videos of conferences but I am not sure under which "title" they should be listed.  A lot of topics of discussed during the conferences (skincare, exercises, travel, diet, stress, treatments, research....), all are related to lymphedema, but with different subdivisions.   There are also lots of short videos on Youtube ranging from how to bandage, exercise, self-massage...etc...There are articles, reports,  pictures, slides, videos... Would there be a way to regroup all that material? 

kira66715

Nitocris, I say, post them here, and then we'll make a push to pin the thread. Does that work for you?

Kira 

Binney4

And of course, not all available material is appropriate or accurate -- there's a wealth of LE kookiness out there -- so posting it here would allow everyone to add their experiences and opinions, which is one of the things that's so helpful about this forum. Post away!
Binney

Nitocris

Hi Kira,

 OK that works for me.  I have a lot of material, so I will start with some documents & videos related to exercising or self-massage.  (Maybe, you already have some of them)

1.  http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/FYWB_pdfs/x21084.pdf (Aurora BayCare Medical Centre - Upper Extremitity Lymphedema Exercises).  Program with Pictures.

2.  http://www.mskcc.org/patient_education/_assets/downloads-english/568.pdf  (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre - Upper Extremity Exercises).  Even though, this exercises program is not specifically for arm lymphedema, most of the exercises are the same. Explanations and drawings very good and clear.

Short videos from BreastCancerSisters:

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhseruhnMUc&feature=related  (Lymphedema & axillary cording)

4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoP9zQ05Qp0&NR=1  (Lymphedema Stretching Exercises)

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9FPhFDOB8E&feature=related  (Lymphedema & self-massage)

 6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_o5fE-b8aw&feature=related   (Lymphedema Wand Exercise)

From England:

7.  http://www.mfbewley.org.uk/PDFs/SLD_for_arm_oedema.pdf  (Summertown Clinic - SLD for unilateral arm oedema). SLD Exercise Leaflet.

8.  http://www.gloshospitals.org.uk/SharePoint5/Patient%20Information%20Leaflets/GHPI0883.pdf  (Gloucestershire Lymphoedema Services - SLD for patients with lymphoedema of the arm(s)) - Exercise Leaflet.

Conference:

9.  http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/101692.cfm   (Day to Day coping with Lymphedema - by Jeannette Zucker.  Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Centre) - Conference divided in various sub-sections; one of them "Exercise and Lymphedema Risk Reduction"

I have more documentation, but I have to go through my files and put them in order.  Check these and let me know what you think.

Greetings to everybody

Lunakin

Nitocris, Wow! Thanks for all these links.