Okay to practice yoga after nodes removed?
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. 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.
Question from JSD: I have had 25 lymph nodes removed and radiation to the area. I do yoga regularly (inversions supporting the body with arms and feet, push-ups, etc.). Is this something I should continue if I was doing it during treatment and after? Is it dangerous to continue this?
- Answers —Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.M.: It's perfectly safe, keep going.
- Nicole Gergich, M.P.T., C.L.T.-L.A.N.A. : And good for you for doing inversions.
- Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.M.: In general, I think it is important to have women learn to increase the load on the affected limb GRADUALLY. That means that you do positions such as downward dog for a moment the first time, and then increase time over weeks/months, using the same approach with other inverted or upper body intensive poses.
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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