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Exercises to Do After Mastectomy

Shoulder shrug

Picture of how to do the shoulder-shrug exercise
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While you sit or stand, lift your shoulders toward your ears. Relax your shoulders, and let them drop to their usual position.

Shoulder roll

Picture of how to do the shoulder-roll exercise
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While you sit or stand, roll your shoulders from front to back and up to down.

Shoulder blade stretch

Picture of how to do the shoulder-blade-stretch exercise
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  1. While you sit or stand, place your arms down straight, palms front.
  2. Raise your arms and bring your hands together above your head.
  3. Hold for 5 seconds.
  4. Repeat 2 or 3 times.

Overhead reach

Picture of how to do the overhead-reach exercise
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  1. While you sit or stand, clasp your hands together and extend your elbows.
  2. Lift your arms toward your head.
  3. Hold for 3 seconds.
  4. Repeat 2 or 3 times.

Shoulder pinch

Picture of how to do the shoulder-pinch exercise
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  1. Stand with your arms at your sides.
  2. Bring your elbows back, and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Keep your shoulders back and down.
  3. Hold for 5 seconds.
  4. Repeat 2 or 3 times.

Wall climb

Picture of how to do the wall-climb exercise
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  1. While you stand, face a wall, with one hand on the wall.
  2. Walk your fingers up the wall until you feel a stretch.
  3. Hold that position for 5 seconds.
  4. Slowly walk your fingers back down to the starting position.
  5. Repeat 2 or 3 times.

Elbow circles

Picture of how to do the elbow-circles exercise
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  1. While you sit or stand, put your right hand on your right shoulder, and your left hand on your left shoulder.
  2. Raise your elbows until you feel a stretch.
  3. Make circles with your elbows. Start small and then make larger circles.
  4. Change direction with your circles.
  5. Repeat 2 or 3 times.
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology
Last Revised June 28, 2011

Last Revised: June 28, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology

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