weight-bearing exercise

Hi, ljh. I've never heard of this, but I'm sure the women in the Lyphemdema thread have. Maybe you could try posting your question there as you'd be sure to get more responses from women who've been there, done that.



All the best...

ljh....there is a difference between weight-bearing exercise and exercise with weights. It is the latter we should avoid if we have had axilliary surgery in order to lessen the risk of lymphedema.

I am always careful not to lift heavy things with my 'bad' arm; however, weight-bearing exercise such as walking, running, rebounding,using the treadmill etc are very good for maintaining bone-density and pose no risk to  the arm.

Sam 

I had two levels of nodes removed from my left side almost 6 years ago, and one node from the right side recently. I continue to lift weights and rock climb, and have had no lymphedema.

I was doing the weight lifting long before cancer, and I think my body built up a good collateral circulation. Withing a few weeks of my axillary dissection, I was stretching, using very light weights, then got back up to my usual routine within a few months.

I did have mild swelling in my hand one time--hiking at high altitude in freezing cold, with only a light glove on, and using repetitive motion with walking poles--two weeks after finishing radiation. Not too smart, but no permanent damage done. Thank god.

There are many weight bearing activities that don't involve the arms, if you're worried about osteoporosis of the hips and low back. Walking is great. Yoga is great. Consider getting a physical therapist who also works with LE to get a good plan of action for you.

Anne

oh great.....I started working out with weights, not thinking about my lymphedema risk. ARGH!!! I am not as 'protective' of my arm as maybe I should be, and often find myself lifting heavy objects, etc. So starting weights just didn't click in my head. I was just thinking toning and good for bone density. ugh. Do I stop or do I just keep the weight low?? I am using universal type machines.

I have always been pretty athletic and have casually lifted weights on and off for years. After my Ax. node biopsy I read of the concerns re weight lifting. It seems there's a lot of controversy on this. I then found an article about a study being conducted in Phila. The study seemed to suggest that lifting weights, starting at light weight and increasing ever so gradually in reps and weight can actual be beneficial both in treating lymphedema and warding it off.

I  too

sorry, I cut myself off-----

But i

sorry, I cut myself off-----

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I will try to finish my thought.

 I have been lifting for 4 or 5 months beginning with realy light weight and increasing to 8lbs for 15 reps (2x). I don't know the answer about whether or not this is right or wrong but I feel strongly about a strong body and feel this is right for me.

Good luck all.   

I can't imagine that running or walking, which are both weight bearing would contribute to arm lymphedema, unless you swing your arms so high and hard that fluid builds up. 

Since hips are a frequent bone to get broken lower body exercise seems like a good idea.   

I think gradual build-up and cool-down are very helpful.  Lifting weights with your arms will pump fluid into those muscles.  If you just stop suddenly there may be a risk of your impaired lymph system not removing the fluid.  But if you cool down, doing easy moves after hard and stretching you should reduce that risk.

I've read that 15 pounds should be the max you lift after breast surgery.  For most women who are not hard-core lifters that limit is not a problem.  I don't think that limit applies on weight machines, because they use pulleys and leverage to hoist the weight and it's a different situation.  However the warm-up/cool-down/condition still applies. 

If you are a hard-core lifter then I would expect you are savy enough about your workouts to know how to warm-up/cool-down and condition yourself to handle those weights. 

Yoga, of the power variety, is also a decent weight bearing activity. The plus of that is that most moves are smooth and you rarely do tons of reps.