You will probably find it helpful to stay active. Light exercise after surgery, such as walking, can help people recover and improve their energy levels.
How much will you be able to exercise?
The amount and type of exercise you do will depend on what you are used to, how well you feel and your doctor’s advice. It is important that you wear a supportive bra to protect your breasts when you exercise.
When can you resume vigorous exercise?
If you have a breast reconstruction, it will be a while before you can return to vigorous exercise and you may need to modify the exercise that you do. For example, if you have an abdominal flap reconstruction, you will need to be gentle with abdominal exercises.
You will also be encouraged to wear supportive underwear. Ask your doctor, breast care nurse, physiotherapist or exercise physiologist about exercises you can try.
Exercise and breast reconstruction
Exercise is important before and after breast reconstruction surgery to help get your arm and shoulder moving again. Exercise before surgery can help you feel better and recover your strength faster.
For a guide to some simple exercises that you can do after a breast reconstruction, see Cancer Council’s Arm & shoulder exercises after surgery poster.
Breast Cancer Network Australia has videos and a podcast to help you start your recovery before you have surgery, as well as afterwards. Learn how to achieve your best possible physical recovery after a breast reconstruction at BCNA.
For more on this, see Exercise for people living with cancer.
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Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
Dr Jane O’Brien, Specialist Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgeon, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, VIC; Clare Bradshaw, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Breast Assessment Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; Rene Hahn, Consumer; Sinead Hanley, Consumer; Dr Marc Langbart, Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Randwick Plastic Surgery, NSW; Melanie Law, Consumer; Sally Levy, Consumer; Annmaree Mitchell, Consumer; Ashleigh Mondolo, Breast Cancer Nurse Clinical Consultant, Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, QLD; Rochelle Osgood, Clinical Nurse Consultant – McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, QLD: Dr Kallyani Ponniah, Head of Department, Breast Centre, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, WA; Meg Rynderman OAM, Consumer; Sarah Stewart, Breast Care Nurse, The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC; Erin Tidball, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Jane Turner, Senior Exercise Physiologist, Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre, Concord Cancer Centre, NSW.
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