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Exercises After Breast Cancer Surgery

This information was developed with assistance from the Oncology Section of the 黑料大湿Posts Physical Therapy Association.

Doing exercises after any type of breast cancer surgery can help you get your arm and shoulder moving again. These exercises can reduce the side effects from your surgery and help you get back to your usual activities.

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When to use these exercises

It's important to do arm and shoulder exercises after all types of breast cancer surgery, including:

  • Surgical breast biopsy
  • Lymph node removal
  • Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy)
  • Mastectomy
  • Breast reconstruction

Talk to your healthcare team before trying any of the exercises described here.

You can start these exercises as soon as your healthcare team says it's OK. This usually happens a week or more after surgery.

Why are exercises important after breast surgery?

Pain and stiffness can weaken your arm and shoulder and make it harder to move them. This can happen after any type of breast cancer surgery, and it can affect your daily activities like dressing, bathing, or combing your hair. Exercises can help you get? movement back in your arm and shoulder.

If you had radiation therapy after surgery, these exercises are even more important. 

Radiation can affect your arm and shoulder long after treatment is finished. Building a regular habit of exercises can help you maintain movement and keep this part of your body flexible. 

Should I talk to my doctor first?

Do not start any of these exercises without talking to your doctor or healthcare team first.

The exercises described below are some of the more common ones done after breast surgery. But your healthcare team can help you figure out a program that’s right for you. They might send you to a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or cancer exercise specialist certified by the 黑料大湿Posts College of Sports Medicine.

These health professionals are specially trained to design an exercise program just for you. You might need this kind of help if you do not have full use of your arm within 3 to 4 weeks after surgery.

General guidelines

Some exercises should not be done until your drains and sutures (stitches) are removed. Other exercises can be started soon after surgery. The exercises that increase your shoulder and arm motion can usually be started within a few days. Exercises to help make your arm stronger are added later.

Getting started:

  • Wear comfortable, loose clothing.
  • It may help to exercise after a warm shower, when your muscles are warm and relaxed.
  • Try to do each exercise as correctly as you can.
  • Take deep breaths, in and out, as you do each exercise.
  • Tell your cancer care team if you have trouble doing any of the exercises. You may need to see a physical or occupational therapist.

How long to hold each stretch:

  • Do each exercise slowly until you feel a gentle stretch.
  • Hold each stretch at the end of the motion and slowly count to 5.
  • Do not bounce or make any jerky movements.
  • You should not feel pain as you do them, only gentle stretching.

How often to do these exercises:

  • Do each exercise 5 to 7 times.
  • Do this twice a day until you get back to your normal flexibility.
  • Continuing some exercises during the months after surgery can help you keep moving.

What to do if you feel:

  • Tightness: Some tightness in your chest and armpit after surgery is normal. The tightness should decrease as you do your exercises. Call your doctor if it does not.
  • Pulling: It’s normal to feel some pulling as you stretch the skin that has been shortened because of the surgery.
  • Burning, tingling, numbness, or soreness: You might have one or more of these feelings on the back of your arm and/or on your chest wall. This is because the surgery can irritate some of your nerves. These feelings might increase a few weeks after surgery, but keep doing your exercises unless you notice unusual swelling or tenderness. If this happens, tell your healthcare team right away. Sometimes, rubbing or stroking the area with your hand or a soft cloth can help make it less sensitive.

Gentle movements for the first week

The movements and exercises below should be done for the first 3 to 7 days following surgery. Do them only after you get the OK from your healthcare team.

Use your arm as you normally would when you comb your hair, bathe, get dressed, and eat. Ask your healthcare team if you can lift heavier items.

These exercises help move lymph fluid out of your arm and restore movement.

  • Raise your arms up to shoulder height, or as high as you can without pulling on your drains.
  • Lower your arms, then repeat the movement a few times in a row.
  • Do this 3 or 4 times a day.

You can exercise your affected arm while it’s raised. There are a few ways to do this:

  • With your arm raised, open and close your hand 15 to 25 times. Next, bend and straighten your elbow several times.
  • You can also bend your elbow and touch the shoulder on the same side a few times. Then touch the shoulder on the opposite side a few times.

Practice deep breathing exercises (using your diaphragm) at least 6 times a day.

  • Lie on your back and take a slow, deep breath.
  • Breathe in as much air as you can while trying to expand your chest and abdomen. Do this by pushing your belly button away from your spine as you breathe.
  • Relax and breathe out.
  • Repeat 4 or 5 times.

This exercise will help you keep normal movement in your chest, making it easier for your lungs to work. Do deep breathing exercises often.

Stretches and exercises

Below are some of the more common exercises done after breast surgery. Ask your healthcare team which exercises are right for you and when you should start doing them. Do not start any of these without talking to your healthcare team first.

Wand exercise

Illustration showing woman lying on her back with her knees bent and feet flat on the floor. She is holding a wand across her stomach with both hands facing up. Second illlustration shows woman in same position but she has lifted the wand up over her head.

This exercise helps increase your ability to move your shoulders forward. You will need a broom handle, yardstick, or other stick-like object to use as the wand. Do these exercises on a bed or the floor. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat.

  • Hold the wand across your belly in both hands with your palms facing up.
  • Lift the wand up over your head as far as you can. Use your unaffected arm to help lift the wand until you feel a stretch in your affected arm.
  • Hold for 5 seconds.
  • Lower your arms and repeat 5 to 7 times.

Elbow winging

Illustration showing woman lying on her back with her knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Her hands are clasped behind her neck with elbows pointing toward the ceiling. Second illustration shows woman in same position but with her elbows apart and down toward the bed or floor.

This exercise helps increase movement in the front of your chest and shoulder. It should be done on a bed or the floor. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat. It may take many weeks of regular exercise before your elbows get close to the bed or floor.

  • Clasp your hands behind your neck with your elbows pointing toward the ceiling.
  • Move your elbows apart and down toward the bed or floor.
  • Repeat 5 to 7 times.

Shoulder blade stretch

Illustration showing woman sitting in a chair close to a table with her back against the chair and arm on the table with elbow bent and palm down.

This exercise helps increase your shoulder blade movement.

  • Sit in a chair very close to a table with your back against the back of the chair.
  • Place the unaffected arm on the table with your elbow bent and palm down. Do not move this arm during the exercise.
  • Place the affected arm on the table, palm down, with your elbow straight.
  • Slide the affected arm forward, toward the opposite side of the table. Do this without moving your upper body.
  • You should feel your shoulder blade move as you do the exercise.
  • Relax your arm and repeat 5 to 7 times.

Shoulder blade squeeze

Illustration of a woman sitting in a chair with her face straight ahead, arms at her sides with elbows bent. Second illustration shows woman in same chair but with her elbows behind her.

This exercise also helps increase shoulder blade movement and improve posture.

  • Sit in a chair in front of a mirror. Face straight ahead. Do not rest against the back of the chair.
  • Your arms should be at your sides with your elbows bent.
  • Squeeze your shoulder blades together, bringing your elbows behind you toward your spine. Your elbows will move with you, but don't force the motion with your elbows.
  • Keep your shoulders level as you do this. Do not lift your shoulders up toward your ears.
  • Return to the starting position and repeat 5 to 7 times.

Side bends

Series of illustrations showing a woman, first sitting in a chair with her hands clasped together in front of her, second with her arms over her head and third with her arms over her head and bending her trunk to the right.

Side bends help increase movement of your torso and body.

  • Sit in a chair and clasp your hands together in front of you. Lift your arms slowly over your head, straightening your arms.
  • When your arms are over your head, bend your upper body to the right. Keep your arms overhead.
  • Return to the starting position and bend to the left.
  • Repeat 5 to 7 times.

Chest wall stretch

Illustration of a woman standing and facing a corner with her forearms on the wall.

This exercise helps stretch your chest.

  • Stand facing a corner with your toes about 8 to 10 inches from the corner.
  • Bend your elbows and put your forearms on the wall, one on each side of the corner. Your elbows should be as close to shoulder height as possible.
  • Keep your arms and feet in place and move your chest toward the corner. You will feel a stretch across your chest and shoulders.
  • Return to the starting position and repeat 5 to 7 times.

The picture shows stretching both sides at the same time, but you may find it more comfortable to stretch one arm at a time.

Be sure you keep your shoulders dropped far away from your ears as you do this stretch. Keep your head and neck in line with your body to avoid making your neck sore.

Shoulder stretch

Illustration showing a woman, standing and facing a wall with her hands on the wall.

This exercise helps increase movement in your shoulder.

  • Stand facing the wall with your toes about 8 to 10 inches from the wall.
  • Put your hands on the wall, level with your face.
  • Use your fingers to "climb the wall," reaching as high as you can until you feel a stretch.
  • Return to the starting position and repeat 5 to 7 times.

The picture shows both arms going up at the same time, but you might find it easier to raise one arm at a time.

Be sure you keep your shoulders dropped far away from your ears as you raise your arms. Keep your head and neck in line with your body to avoid making your neck sore.

Starting slow and staying safe

Start exercising slowly. Do more as you are able. Stop exercising and talk to your healthcare team right away if you:

  • Get weaker, start losing your balance, or start falling
  • Have pain that gets worse
  • Have new heaviness, aching, tightness, or other unusual feelings in your arm
  • Have unusual swelling, or any swelling that gets worse
  • Have headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, new numbness, or tingling in your arms or chest

Exercising keeps your muscles working as well as possible, but it’s also important to be safe. Talk with your healthcare team about the right kind of exercises for you. Ask about seeing a lymphedema specialist who can help with safe exercise. Then set goals for increasing your level of physical activity.

Adding other kinds of exercise as you recover

Exercise is an important part of recovery after breast cancer treatment. In addition to stretching, other types of exercise can support your overall health and healing.

Aerobic exercise helps improve your heart and lung health and overall fitness. It may also help with weight control and could lower the risk of some cancers coming back.

  • Examples include walking, biking, or swimming.
  • Start slowly and increase activity as you feel able.
  • Ask your healthcare team what level of activity is safe for you.

Some exercises are designed to help lower the risk of lymphedema (arm swelling on the side of surgery).

  • Gentle movement and range-of-motion exercises can support lymph flow.
  • The exercises described above mainly help improve flexibility in the arm and shoulder.
  • Ask your healthcare team if there are any exercises you should do to lower your risk of lymphedema.

A great way to keep your shoulders moving is to practice "snow angels" in bed before getting up. Lie flat on your back and gently slide your arms up and down. This is a good gentle maintenance exercise.

Strength training helps rebuild muscle and improve overall function. But it should be started gradually. After breast surgery, this type of exercise:

  • Usually begins about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery
  • Starts with light weights and increases slowly over time
  • Should be tailored to your health, fitness level, and treatment plan
  • Is best started with guidance from a physical therapist or trained specialist

Working with your care team can help you exercise safely and get the most benefit during recovery.

Learn more

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Developed by the 黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the 黑料大湿Posts Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

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Last Revised: July 1, 2026

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