Physical Therapy for Breast Cancer Recovery
Seeing a physical therapist after undergoing knee or back surgery isn’t unusual; in fact, most people expect it; however, the inclusion of post-surgery rehabilitation with breast cancer patients is a newer concept. Nowadays, many PTs work closely together to help those suffering from this disease achieve their optimal quality of life – whether they’ve had minor surgery like a lumpectomy, more significant surgery such as a single or double mastectomy, radiation, or chemotherapy.
If you find yourself battling breast cancer, we want you to know you are not alone. Here at Impact Medical in Pompano Beach, our skilled medical professionals are ready to stand with you and provide you the rehabilitative care you deserve so that you can feel your best during your fight and after you have won.
HANDLING BREAST CANCER TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS
The goal of post-surgical physical therapy or PT during breast cancer is to reduce pain and restore the function of body parts that have been impacted by treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy. Some side effects that PT can help to mitigate include:
- Pain in your shoulders, neck, back, chest, and arms
- Stiffness while moving an extremity
- Joint and tissue contracture
- Lymphedema/swelling
- Arm weakness after mastectomy or lumpectomy
- Nerve damage
- Post-surgical pain
- Muscle atrophy
TARGETED TREATMENT FOR BREAST CANCER
Our Impact Medical Pompano Beach physical therapists may become your new best friends during and after your breast cancer treatment. They are experts in their field and can help you recover from a wide range of issues with several treatment modalities, including:
MANUAL THERAPY
Physical therapists work their magic on joints and tissue to reduce pain and improve post-surgical scarring.
POSTURAL TRAINING
After cancer treatment, you may experience changes in your posture that need addressing. Your physical therapist can help identify specific exercises to address any postural problems and improve core spinal condition based on ergonomic assessments of where issues lie with this area after diagnosis or treatment has taken place.
TREATMENT FOR LYMPHEDEMA
You may have swelling in your arm or limbs after undergoing surgery to remove lymph nodes. Your therapist can help improve blood flow by using compression bandaging, giving you individualized exercises that increase muscle strength and flexibility, and providing you with tips for comfortably concealing inflamed areas.
REGULAR EXERCISE
Cancer treatment can be difficult, but through exercise, you have the power to minimize or even eliminate side effects. Your Impact Medical physical therapists will help design a personalized program based on your needs that ensures success at any stage!
WINNING THE BATTLE
The number of breast cancer survivors is on the rise, and physical therapists are playing a more significant role in this survival rate by providing multidisciplinary care for patients. Our Impact Medical PTs work with other treatment team members like surgeons, genetic counselors, psychologists to ensure that they support breast cancer warriors every step of the way.
A breast cancer diagnosis can be a life-altering event, but with the help of your doctors and Impact Medical care team members, we are confident you will weather the storm. In addition, we recognize the importance of complementary treatments in cancer care and recovery and can provide not only physical therapy but also manual therapy and chiropractic care.
If you find yourself faced with cancer treatment and recovery, our Impact Medical team in Pompano Beach is ready to join you in your fight. Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation to learn how we can be one of your care partners. Call 954-953-0802 now!