Recovering from Breast Surgery by Diana Stumm P.T

Author:Diana Stumm, P.T.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hunter House publisher
Published: 1995-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Exercise 14: Standing Chest Stretch

Stand facing a corner. Place one arm on each wall with your elbows level with your shoulders.

Slowly lean forward into the corner. Keep your knees straight and your feet flat on the floor. The closer you get to the corner, the more stretch you will feel in your chest.

Move forward and backward slowly at a pace that feels right to you. You can increase the challenge by moving your feet back.

Repeat the motion five times.

I taught Kendra a second tension-relieving exercise called the “Shrug-Relax” (page 56). Still sitting in the chair, with her arms down at her sides, Kendra shrugged her shoulders up toward her ears. She held this position for a slow count of three, then slowly relaxed and lowered her shoulders. This exercise works well when using the deep-breathing technique. Kendra breathed in through her nose as she shrugged up and blew out slowly through pursed lips as she lowered and relaxed her shoulders.

I then added a third exercise, which was a gentle stretch called the “Standing Chest Stretch” (page 57). Kendra stood in the corner, facing inward, and placed one arm on each wall. With her elbows level with her shoulders, she slowly leaned forward lowering her chest toward the corner. In this position the pectoralis major muscle is stretched. This is a gentle stretch because it is easy to control the forward movement of the body with the legs. Kendra leaned forward and returned to her starting position slowly, five times.

As Kendra got ready to leave, she wanted to know how soon the pain in her chest and shoulder would be gone. I explained that women react very differently to breast implants and the expansion process. Some breeze through it with only fleeting discomfort. They may not need to do any exercises at all. Others are incapacitated for weeks and need physical therapy. In Kendra’s case, she had accomplished so much in the first two treatment sessions that her prospects were very promising. I told her that having a second pair of hands to help her perform another exercise would be ideal. We decided to invite her husband, Gene, to her next session.

When they arrived two days later, Kendra introduced me to Gene. I could see he appeared somewhat uncomfortable being here, however, he obviously cared for Kendra and wanted to help if he could. I decided to put him to work right away; I asked him to slip off his jacket and roll up his sleeves. With Kendra on her back on the treatment table and Gene standing next to her, I demonstrated and coached them in a program of isometric exercises done with a partner (page 60).

Kendra began by pushing her arm against the resistance of Gene’s open palm, which he placed at her elbow. It took several attempts for them to get the rhythm and pressure right. At first Gene tried to overpower Kendra. He had to learn to just meet her effort. I suggested that he set his body weight to be the resistance; he didn’t have to push.

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