Badminton playing and lymphedema

Hi HanTagh,

We don't have any specific information about badminton and lymphedema -- maybe someone else here will have some advice soon -- but we wanted to point you to the main Breastcancer.org site's page on Lymphedema and Exercise for some good tips to consider, and things to look out for.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

For sure you can dragon boat or play badminton if you are already in top shape. You will find that Dr Mckenzine ( and Harris who I have had personal chats with as she was in my University hospital where I got my lymph node surgery) had the subjects start out in progressive strength,stretching, weight training program. Thats the key. Progressive. They did not throw the subjects into a boat and say go for it. That would be unethical.

My gym is following the PAL proram for lymphedema patients which I believe is from University Pensylvania. That study advises to start out real slowly. Hopefully our exercise expert Carol will come on. She has so much useful info and I only scratched the surface.

Some people go for it with no adverse effects others can get LE from lifting one heavy box. Its a crapshoot for sure but I would be rather safe than sorry. At the same time we have to have some fun so why not be cautious and proceed.

I agree with Hugz4u to exercise caution when applying results of that dragonboat study to a personal exercise plan. And I also agree with Jelson and Ruthbru that if badminton appeals as an activity, then by golly, play badminton...working up to a full game in increments, watching the arm to see if there's any LE symptom from the work the arm must do. As you've not been diagnosed with LE, you should know what symptoms to watch for, so you'll recognize if and when there's a lymphedema response. It won't necessarily be obvious swelling--early symptoms include a feeling that the arm is heavy, a mild burning sensation, or you might notice that rings or bracelets feel a little tight, and you haven't gained weight. With lumpectomy LE could present in your breast and trunk, so watch for bra strap and other marks on the surgery side that don't appear on your non-surgery side. The point is that if you catch LE in its very earliest stage, which without visible swelling we could call pre-clinical, you've got a good chance of stopping its development with proper treatment. And if you sense any of these symptoms during or after a round of badminton, that for sure means to put your games on hold while you seek evaluation.

Here's a resource with tons more information about early LE signs, and a whole lot more:

www.stepup-speakout.org

And from that site, here are some documents that give details on the 'build up slowly' advice for exercise:

See and download our Essential Knowledge for fitness trainers, Yoga teachers, and Pilates teachers regarding breast cancer related lymphedema

See and download our Handout What-you-should-know-about-lymphedema-and-exercise as a breast cancer survivor

You'll find in these documents suggestions for adapting many types of exercise to reduce LE risk...but there's nothing on badminton! Even so, you'll get some good tips and guidelines from the readings.

I don't play badminton or tennis, but I'm an avid kayaker. And I measured (with a fitbit on my paddle) the number of strokes I take in an 8-hour day of paddling: 19,000. I go sometimes for a week of full-day paddling, and I get a tired, heavy arm but (thankfully) no flareup of swelling. I attribute that to working out in a gym for years, lifting weights under the guidance of a trainer who took a seminar about the PAL Protocol hugz4u mentioned. In other words, I'm pushing my LE arm to the limit when paddling and I know it, but I have pushed that limit reallly far by conditioning the arm, slowly but surely, with resistance training.

Hanieh, playing badminton with your daughter sounds absolutely wonderful. Best wishes charting a path so you can enjoy it to the max while taking a few precautions to reduce your risk that LE shows up as an uninvited guest.

Jelson, I was just darn curious, so I double-wrapped it in ziplocks and taped it to the paddle near one of my hands. I was stunned to find out how many strokes I take in a day. And in hindsight, I think I now have an idea of why I am in rehab recovering from a torn rotator cuff...normal age-related degeneration + [(19,000 x 6 days) x (5 yearly kayak-camping trips)] + lots of day trips, always = one shredded supraspinatus. Sigh. My PT pointed me to an ergonomic kayak paddle and I'll be checking that out in the spring.

Carol, not to change this into a kayaking thread , but I'm planning to try to get back into paddling next spring/summer now that I have some shoulder range and strength back - so I'm curious, what's the name/brand of the paddle that was recommended to you? Thanks

jelson, wow--you just saved me a ton of research. I had done only a brief search (I am months from any prayer of paddling) and looked at the Epic, but as I too want a very light paddle, thanks to you I now know where to look.

Floaton, I think we're both going to benefit from Jelson's terrific leads.

Smiling here in Michigan!

Jelson, thanks!!! My current paddle is pretty light, but all things considered, I'm thinking of getting a new one before I get back in my kayak, so I can retrain myself using the new one. Thanks for the help on where to start looking

My husband got me two P-Style female urinary devices for my birthday to replace the one I lost. How empowering to be able to wee where-ever just like a man! Not as essential as a light-weight ergonomic paddle, but it certainly enhances my day on the river!!!! - and the right size for a stocking stuffer!

aargh!! I keep losing my post.

the gullwing, based on materials - sounds heavy. nothing against fishermen but, I don't think that is how you paddle - from fishing hole to fishing hole?. also, the guy who paddled two hours and didn't experience shoulder pain, shouldn't' have experienced shoulder pain if he had been paddling correctly in the first place and I wonder about the recommended padding - you shouldn't be holding the shaft that tightly.

several paddle manufacturers make bent/crank shaft paddles - I checked some websites - they don't mention relieving shoulder problems - they mention wrist and elbows. the kayak academy's paddle page mentions shafts which are too short causing shoulder problems and they don't esp like bent shafts. I do!! anyway, I wish you could try some without having to buy them. Are there any BCU or ACA coaches near you who could critique your paddling style to see if there is anything you could do differently so as to protect your shoulders?

I always loved paddling from when I was a teen, especially in a kayak. But I had to stop when I got LE. One more reason that I dislike LE more even than losing my breast. How do you ladies manage to paddle without aggravating your LE?

I have such an odd experience with my LE arm when kayaking. After a few hours, that arm is SO heavy and exhausted feeling, but I don't seem to get more than a minor bit of swelling, if any. I wear my sleeve and gauntlet while paddling, and at bed time I do a long MLD session, and I sleep in my night garment. The heavy/exhausted feeling is super bothersome, and I have found many ways to limit the work that arm has to do, such as altering my posture and using my core to do the pulling as much as possible. Reflecting on that now, I do wonder if my contortions to limit the paddling load on my right, LE arm contributed to my rotator cuff and SLAP tear problems on the other shoulder--hard to say.

I agree wholeheartedly with Doxie that LE affects us all so differently it continues to cause a lot of LE research and clinician headscratching. It also means that we cannot generalize our experiences, except perhaps to say that a common experience is that activity is better than no activity. But how much and what kind of activity works for any of us--totally individual.

What a trial-and-error conditions this stooooopid LE is!