Breast cancer surgery is a particularly difficult treatment to recover from. It can take a serious toll on your body and physical therapy is one of the best ways to help you recover. Researchers are finding that physical therapy can bring a lot of benefits to your recovery process after surgery. Here is a look at the potential benefits of physical therapy after breast cancer surgery.
Kickstarts the Recovery Process
One of the best aspects of physical therapy is that it kickstarts the recovery process. Physicians have known for a long time that being stagnant when recovering is bad for your health. It leads to adverse health problems and slows your recovery. Physical therapy forces your body to exercise, which leads to the rapid healing of muscles and other body parts. In short, physical therapy helps your body generate a need for rapid healing and recovery, and your body’s automated healing process starts working faster. That way, your body is rebuilding muscles and soft tissue since it feels like it needs to because you’re exercising.
Reduces the Risk of Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a condition that develops when part or all of the lymph nodes are removed. Fluid builds up in the lymphatic system and can cause further health problems. Physical therapy is shown to reduce the risk of developing lymphedema. Physical therapy helps the body flush these fluids out of the lymphatic system. Regular physical therapy sessions and exercises involving the upper body and core are particularly effective treatment methods.
Learning How to Function Again
After surgery, your body needs to learn how to function again with the changes from that surgery. Physical therapy is the best way to learn how to function again. A series of exercises can push your body to its new limits and let you see what it can do. Subconsciously, your body is looking for new ways of doing things and compensating for any changes that affect how it works.
You also have to learn how to avoid specific issues after surgery. Your body goes through a traumatic event, and you have to learn how to protect it during the recovery process. This could mean learning how to use your arms again without damaging incision sites, or avoiding things like sunlight to prevent further illness. Physical therapy can teach you how to use your body properly so that you can heal without continued pain and problems.
Starts Your Mental Recovery Too
Surgery, especially for breast cancer, can affect your mental state as well. By doing physical therapy, you can get the benefits of exercise and from social interaction. Seeing your body make regular progress in therapy along with weekly or daily interactions with other people can help you avoid common problems like depression and a lack of motivation that can hurt your recovery.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to schedule physical therapy treatments after breast cancer surgery, contact Manhattan Physical Therapy and Pain Center today at (212) 213-3480 to learn how we can help.