| Arm lymphedema, or chronic swelling of the arm, | | | | lymphedema was reassessed. Of note, all of the |
| occurs in 10 to 30 percent of women following | | | | women who were randomized to the weight training |
| treatment for breast cancer. When the lymphatic | | | | group were required to wear custom-fitted |
| drainage network in the arm has been disrupted by | | | | compression garments when they were lifting |
| the surgical removal of armpit lymph nodes by the | | | | weights. |
| surgeon, or by radiation therapy to the armpit area | | | | Not surprisingly, the women who participated in |
| (or, sometimes, following both types of treatment), | | | | regular weight training reported significant |
| the delicate network of lymphatic vessels that return | | | | improvement in upper and lower body strength |
| excess tissue fluid back to the heart can become | | | | during the course of this research study. Moreover, |
| obstructed. This lymphatic obstruction can result in | | | | at the end of one year, both the patients and a |
| chronic swelling of the hand and arm. Patients with | | | | certified lymphedema specialist reported a significant |
| significant lymphedema of the arm following breast | | | | decrease in the severity and frequency of |
| cancer treatment may experience considerable | | | | lymphedema symptoms among the patients who |
| swelling (edema), heaviness, stiffness and discomfort | | | | were randomized to the weight-lifting group. At the |
| of the affected hand and arm. | | | | same time, twice weekly weightlifting sessions had |
| Physicians caring for breast cancer patients have | | | | no significant effect on the extent of arm and hand |
| traditionally advised against heavy lifting following | | | | swelling among these women with chronic |
| breast cancer surgery, for fear that doing so might | | | | lymphedema. |
| increase arm lymphedema. However, a new | | | | The results of this clinical study are good news for |
| prospective randomized clinical research study calls | | | | breast cancer survivors with chronic lymphedema. |
| into question the traditional advice against vigorous | | | | Physicians who care for such patients should all be |
| exercise involving the upper extremities, including | | | | made aware of the results of this research study, |
| lifting weights as a strengthening exercise. | | | | and they should begin encouraging their lymphedema |
| This new study, which appears in the New England | | | | patients to engage in regular weight training |
| Journal of Medicine, included 141 breast cancer | | | | (provided, of course, that there are no health issues |
| survivors with chronic lymphedema. These women | | | | that preclude lifting weights). Not only does regular |
| were divided into two groups, with a "treatment" | | | | weight training appear to decrease the severity and |
| group randomized to twice-weekly progressive | | | | frequency of lymphedema symptoms (based upon |
| weight training and a "control" group of women who | | | | the findings of this study), but the added health |
| were randomized to no weight training. All of the | | | | advantages of such training also include increased |
| women participating in this study were followed for | | | | strength and a decreased risk of osteoporosis as |
| one year, at the end of which the degree of arm | | | | well. |