Exercises for lymphedema? Wear compression garment forever?
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 Kay: I developed lymphedema in my left arm and my left breast (trunk area). Are there any exercises that I should be doing on a regular basis? Do I need to wear my Belisse compression bra for the rest of my life, as well as the arm sleeve? What precautions do I need to be aware of? Thank you and God bless!
- Answer —Nicole Gergich, M.P.T., C.L.T.-L.A.N.A. : I think the precautions have been well outlined up to this point, as far as precaution with activity and exercise, lifting, etc. Indeed, there's no restriction; you just need to be cautious about completing those activities to the best of your abilities. As far as wearing compression garments for the rest of one's life, I think that is different for every patient. You will probably need some degree of compression on the chest wall. It's hard to say if that's every day, all day, and the same goes for the arm sleeve. I think everyone is different and as we learn our limbs, we learn our breasts also, and how much compression we need to maintain the swelling to a degree that's comfortable for us.
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.
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