Rehabilitation exercises, also called postoperative functional exercises, promote the return of blood and lymphatic fluid through specific arm movement methods. Post-operative progressive rehabilitation exercises are divided into three sets: morning, midday and evening, according to the requirements of post-operative recovery. It is very important to perform rehabilitation exercises every day, not only to help you effectively prevent edema, but also to promote wound healing and the recovery of upper limb function. Getting your affected limb back to its original state as much as possible will help improve your quality of life.
Remembering the following three points can help you achieve twice the result with half the effort.
1. Gradually: The number of volumes of exercise per day and the duration of exercise per day should be gradually increased, avoiding excessive exercise, so as not to feel fatigue the next day.
2, grasp the intensity: each post-operative three months recommended three times a day, 10-15 minutes each time.
3. Action on symmetry: do both sides of the arms at the same time or do rehabilitation exercises in sequence to maintain the same muscle elasticity and make your movements more coordinated.
Through such gradual and consistent exercise, you can completely help your affected limb to recover to its original state!
The first set: early rehabilitation exercises (within one month after surgery)
Suitable for patients from 24 hours after surgery to one month after surgery. The effect of this set of rehabilitation exercises is to promote the return of blood and lymphatic fluid through arm movement and muscle contraction, prevent lymphedema, and promote wound healing. At this stage, attention needs to be paid to gradually increasing the exercises every day, and after two weeks you can do all the movements.
The first session (1 day after surgery) fist clenching exercise: clenching and loosening the fist.
The second section (2 days after surgery) wrist exercise: move the wrist up and down with internal and external rotation movement.
Section 3 (postoperative day 3) forearm exercises: flex and extend the forearm up and down.
Section 4 (day 5 postoperative) elbow exercise: elbow supported by waist, arm elevated and placed on the opposite side of the chest, alternating sides.
Section 5 (postoperative day 7) elbow holding exercise: the healthy side hand holds the elbow of the affected side hand and lifts it to the chest.
Section 6 (postoperative day 9) shoulder release exercise: rotate the shoulder forwards and backwards.
Section 7 (Day 10 postoperative) Upper arm exercise: Raise the upper arm as parallel to the ground as possible.
Section 8 (postoperative day 11) neck exercises: cross your arms and rotate your head and neck forward, backward, left, right and in both directions.
Section 9 (postoperative day 12) body rotation exercise: rotate the upper body from left to right and swing the arms back and forth.
Section 10 (postoperative day 14) shoulder lifting exercise: hold the wrist of the affected side to the front of the abdomen on the healthy side, lift it up to the flat flexion in front of the chest, and try your best to extend it forward.
The second set: mid-term rehabilitation exercises (1-3 months after surgery)
Suitable for patients 1-3 months postoperative. Through the contact of this set of movements, the muscle groups around the shoulder joint can be fully exercised, gradually replacing the role of axillary tissues. In addition, through the repeated pulling of the tissues around the wound, scar adhesions can be prevented and shoulder joint mobility can be improved.
The first section of the retraction exercise: spread both hands to both sides about 45° both hands to the oblique down in front of the abdomen cross, repeat the spread.
Section 2: Lateral pushing and pulling exercise: Hold the affected wrist on the healthy side to the front of the chest in flat flexion, push to the affected side and pull on the healthy side.
The third section of the hand-shaking exercise: both forearms are held forward flat, both arms swing from the front to the back, both forearms swing forward up to the back side of the head.
The fourth section of the chest expansion exercise: two hands raised to the chest flat flexion, to the sides of the force to spread, restore to flat flexion.
The fifth section of the lateral raise exercise: two hands lateral raise, bend elbows and shoulder width, restore to the side of the flat.
Sixth section of the lifting movement: the healthy side of the affected wrist to the front of the abdomen, pull to the chest flat flexion, lifting overhead.
Section seven: the healthy side of the hand to hold the affected wrist, from the front of the chest from the affected side upwards around the lift, and then to the healthy side downwards around the alternating.
Section VIII abdominal and dorsal exercises: hands to the shoulders, upward lateral raise on both sides of the head, bow, bend over, hands straight down.
The ninth section of the body turn exercise: arms up, one hand crossed waist, while rotating backward, eyes move with the other hand.
The tenth section of finishing exercises: step in place, swinging the hands back and forth.
The third set: late rehabilitation exercises (after 3 months after surgery)
Suitable for patients after 3 months after surgery, to play the role of consolidation exercise, the amplitude of this set of exercises is larger, and you can insist on exercising once a day.
Late rehabilitation exercises (starting 3 months after surgery and with swimming, table tennis and other sports)
The first section of warm-up exercise: feet shoulder-width apart, arms with inhalation and exhalation up and down to do encircling movements.
Second section head shaking exercise: shake your head from side to side.
The third section of the head exercise: head down, hands up to the chest, head up, hands holding each other to the top of the head, with the back and forth tiptoe movement.
The fourth section of the arm extension exercise: left and right shift the center of gravity, the arms rise in turn, with the head lifting action.
Fifth section of the side waist exercise: side waist muscle, low head and jaw chest, after a slow rise, shoulders backward around.
Sixth section of the turn waist exercise: left and right shift the weight to turn the waist, arm bending.
The seventh section of the ring movement: double arms big ring around, left and right shift the weight.