Hollings Horizons 2023 Combined for flipbook - Flipbook - Page 11
PHYSICAL THERAPY EXERCISES
Beach Pose
Range of motion of the shoulder is very important post-surgery. The armpit area can
get very tight. Particularly if you are planned for radiation, you need to be able to reach
your arm up behind your head. The beach pose helps patients get motion back
without a lot of strain.
➜ Start lying on your back, hands up and at your ears, and slowly let the elbows
stretch out to the sides. Hold the pose for 1 minute.
breast cancer
Upper Trap Stretch
head and neck & post-breast cancer
Upper trapezius and levator scapula stretches are great for anyone with neck tightness in the area.
➜ Start with your head bent to one side, thinking about bringing your ear to your shoulder.
Hold that position for 30 seconds.
➜ Then turn your chin to your armpit to stretch the muscle that attaches to your shoulder blade.
Hold that for 30 seconds.
➜ Repeat on the other side. Be sure to perform things pain-free and strain-free.
Semi-tandem and
Tandem Stance
The goal is to stand for 10 seconds with good balance and not holding
onto anything. Be sure to perform this where you can reach out and hold
the wall for support. The CDC recommends that anyone who can stand
for more than 10 seconds in tandem stance is less likely to fall.
feet together
|
semi-tandem
➜ Start with semi-tandem first as a warm-up and then progress to tandem and repeat on each foot.
Sit to Stand
|
tandem
all cancers
all cancers
For overall strength: sitting down and standing up from a chair is great to practice. Try from
different chair heights to work on getting in and out of bed, in and out of the car, on and off the
toilet, and to build leg strength.
➜ Work to go from sitting to standing 10 times in a row.
hollingscancercenter.musc.edu
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