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Still okay to ride exercise bike?

Page last modified on: August 25, 2008

Question from Carol: Before several of my lymph nodes were removed due to breast cancer, I used to ride a stationary bike for exercise. Can I still ride it now or will it be too much exercise for my surgical arm?: Answers —Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.M.: The answer is you should absolutely ride your stationary bicycle, and it will not be too much for your affected arm. In fact, I would submit, and I hope that Jennifer and Nicole will agree with me – if it's controversial I suppose they'll tell me – that the risk of inactivity poses greater long-term health risks than the risks of being active. I think that there is evidence that weight gain and obesity are associated with worsening of lymphedema. And there is evidence that exercise is effective in avoiding weight gain. Therefore, aerobic exercise in particular may be quite useful in risk management and attenuating worsening of lymphedema.; Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S.: I think it's fair to say we all agree 100%.

On Wednesday, April 16, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Preventing and Treating Arm Lymphedema. Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.M.,Nicole Stout Gergich, M.P.T. C.L.T.-L.A.N.A., and moderator Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.S.C. answered your questions about ways to prevent and manage lymphedema.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.M. is assistant professor in the Division of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania and adjunct associate professor in the Division of Epidemiology at the University of Minnesota.

Nicole Stout Gergich, M.P.T., C.L.T.-L.A.N.A.

Nicole Stout Gergich M.P.T., C.L.T.-L.A.N.A. is a physical therapist and lymphedema specialist at the Breast Care Center at the National Naval Medical Center. She is also the president of the Oncology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association, and has previously served on the Medical Advisory Board and research committee for the National Lymphedema Network.

Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon who directs the newly developed Breast Care Center at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa. Among her many interests, Dr. Sabol spearheads several research initiatives to advance the care for women with breast cancer and improve methods of breast cancer detection and treatment.