4 Safety Tips For Exercising After A Breast Surgery
You may feel eager to return to your normal routine after your breast surgery and perform the activities you usually enjoy, like exercising. However, your body’s condition after an operation may still not be at its best. Hence, it would be advisable to take your time before going back to your usual fitness routine.
You can practice some safety recommendations to ensure you won’t hurt yourself or experience a relapse when exercising after your operation. So, take note of the following safety tips below:
1. Wear Protective Clothing
If you really want to work out after your recovery, it’s advisable to take extra precautions before starting. For instance, you may need to secure your breast with customized sportswear to ensure that they won’t bother you once you exercise. Wearing the proper clothes will also help reduce the strain on your chest and prevent any complications from occurring.
For example, if you wish to do light cardio like walking or jogging, you should wear a sports bra with extra support in your chest area. It’ll keep your upper body in a comfortable and secured position so that you can perform various movements with ease. You may also opt for other forms of exercise with less strenuous workouts like swimming if you’re conscious about the condition of your breasts.
Swimming will allow you to regain your strength and range of motion without putting too much pressure on your body. There are mastectomy swim suits you can use to ensure your breast is well-supported during the activity. You’ll feel more at ease when exercising if you’re wearing the right clothes that can protect and secure your chest.
2. Start With Light Movements
It’s normal for you to have limited movements in your arms, chest, and armpits after your surgery. Fortunately, the strain you feel in your upper body will usually start to disappear after a few weeks. Once you feel comfortable enough to exercise, it’s best to start with light and controlled movements to ensure you won’t experience any adverse effects.
For example, you can start by raising your arms slowly and stretching them out above your head to warm up your muscles. You can practice this movement repeatedly until you feel less discomfort in your chest area. You may also try yoga or stretching to help you get back to your active lifestyle without pushing your body past its limits.
It may be best to refrain from weighted exercises like using dumbbells since these types of workouts will induce too much stress on your body. Instead, focus on regaining your range of motion and flexibility in your arms and chest slowly. Light exercises will also help you recover from your surgery faster, so don’t hesitate to try it out.
3. Consult Your Doctor
One way to guarantee that it’s safe for you to exercise after breast surgery is by consulting your doctor. You may need to abstain from movements for a certain period until your attending physician gives you the signal to go back to your active lifestyle. Remember that each person’s recovery pace is different. So, estimating when you can be active again based on other people’s experiences may not work in your favor.
You can ask your doctor for the recommended intensity and types of workouts you can do. This way, you’ll feel at ease performing your post-operation fitness regimen. If you wish to exercise under an expert’s supervision or have difficulties exercising independently, you can also opt to get physical therapy sessions to help your body return to normal.
4. Be Patient
Getting surgery on your breasts is a major operation that may change various aspects of your lifestyle. It may change your chest’s appearance and limit your upper body movement for a certain period. These changes may frustrate you, especially when you’re advised to limit your physical activities or refrain from doing high-intensity exercises you used to enjoy to ensure your complete recovery.
However, it would help if you choose to be patient about your progress instead of rushing your fitness routine. Taking your time and being mindful about how your body feels will allow you to get back to full health without any problems.
Listening to your body will also help keep you safe and prevent any relapse from your surgery. Being patient and slowly increasing the intensity of your exercises will ensure you’re free from injuries and also help preserve your overall health in the long run.
Final Thoughts
You may feel excited to return to your regular fitness routine once you finish your breast surgery, especially when you feel strong enough to perform activities. However, it’s vital to remember that your body will need time to recover from the major procedure you went through. Thus, you should approach any form of exercise with precaution and take extra steps to ensure you won’t hurt yourself. Starting with small movements and wearing the right clothes are some basic tips you can practice to guarantee that you can safely work out after your operation.
