Breast Care Rehabilitation
Specialist Rehabilitation and Therapy
An effective and holistic rehabilitation program after a Breast or Lymph procedure is so vital in your recovery journey back to a vibrant life. With the appropriate and timely support, you can regain your full function in your abundant life and doing things you love again.
Our team of certified Upper Limb & Lymphoedema Therapists are specialized in restoring the function of your upper limb after a Breast or Lymph related procedure. Mobility, Strength and Function in a vibrant life are goals that we want to help you achieve. Working closely with your needs, we tailor a program that holistically supports you in the restoration of your Mobility, Strength and Function to enable you to return to your best abundant life again.
Post Surgical Rehabilitation following a Breast or Lymph procedure is an area of specialty that our Upper Limb & Lymphoedema therapists treat. After such a procedure, many patients experience stiffness and mobility issues in the Upper Limb. Working closely with your Surgeon, we manage surgical and radiation scars, swelling, range of movement and strength issues on a post operative time line closely according to your recovery.
Early Detection and Prevention of Lymphoedema with Lymphatic Fluid Bioimpedance Analysis following a Breast condition involving chemotherapy and radiation therapy is also an area of our clinical specialty. Lymphoedema can be reversible when it is detected at the early stages of 0-1, missing this critical early stage often leads to a life time of lymphoedema.
As Stage 0-1 Lymphoedema is not visible to the eye, a clinical grade Lymphatic Fluid Bioimpedance together with specific circumferential measurements is necessary to detect and prevent further progression. Our clinic is equipped with a clinical grade bioimpedance unit to measure and monitor Lymphatic Fluid of the individual limbs.
Decongestive Therapy involving Manual Lymphoedema Drainage and Compression therapy by our certified Lymphoedema Therapists is also a clinically effective solution to managing Breast Cancer related Lymphoedema. Our specialized therapists will work closely with you to tailor a personalized program with the necessary compressive garment prescription and bandaging. Together with a tailored home program, we help you to achieve your goal of a light and functional use of your hands again.
After a Breast or Lymph procedure, it is common to experience the following symptoms:
Common Symptoms
Reduced movement in the Shoulder/Elbow & Hand
Prolonged Muscular tightness forming around the Shoulder/Elbow & Hand
Reduced functional use of the Hand in daily living
Swelling and feelings of heaviness in the Upper Limb
Hypersensitivity and pain at the Surgical Scar sites
Feelings of bunching and hardness at the Radiation Scar sites
Common Causes
Any Breast/Lymph surgical procedure performed
Prolonged immobilization of the limb post surgery
Taxane-based Chemotherapy
Regional Node Radiotherapy Axillary Lymph Node dissection (ALND)
Sentinel Node Biopsy
Breast Care Rehabilitation
A Total & Effective Solution
Post Surgical Rehabilitation Needs
After a Breast or Lymph procedure, many patients experience stiffness and mobility issues in the Upper Limb.
Working closely with your Surgeon on the post operative timeline, we help you to manage:
Upper Limb and Hand Mobility
Surgical and Radiation scars
Post surgical swelling
Early Detection & Prevention of Lymphoedema
Lymphoedema can be reversible when it is detected at the early stages of 0-1, missing this critical early stage often leads to a life time of lymphoedema. As Stage 0-1 Lymphoedema is not visible to the eye, our clinic is equipped with a clinical grade Lymphatic Fluid Bioimpedance unit to measure and monitor Lymphatic Fluid of the individual limbs.
Together with specific limb circumferential measured administered by our team of certified Upper Limb & Lymphoedema Therapists, we can help to detect and prevent any unnecessary onset of life time lymphoedema.
Decongestive Therapy
Decongestive Therapy involving Manual Lymphoedema Drainage and Compression therapy by our Certified Lymphoedema Therapists is an evidence-based clinically effective solution to managing Breast Cancer related Lymphoedema. Our specialized therapists will work closely with you to tailor a personalized program with the necessary compressive garment prescription and bandaging. Together with a tailored home program, we help you to achieve your goal of a light and functional use of your hands again.
Lymphoedema
It is the swelling of one or more limbs or body regions, such as the arms, legs and neck or breast. It occurs when your lymph nodes or vessels, which make up your lymphatic system, become blocked or damaged. This means that lymph fluid doesn’t drain as it should and instead builds up in the tissues, causing swelling. Lymphoedema usually occurs after you have a Breast or Lymph procedure performed.
What is Lymphoedema?
Common Symptoms
Swelling of limb
Tightness of clothes, jewellery, shoes, without overall weight gain
Feelings of heaviness, pain, aching, tightness or ‘bursting’ in the arm
Skin changes e.g. being drier, more sensitive to irritation
Cellulitis
Common Causes
Taxane-based Chemotherapy
Regional Node Radiotherapy
Axillary Lymph Node dissection (ALND)
Sentinel Node Biopsy
Infections arising from breaks in the skin
Prolonged immobilization of the limb post surgery
Lymphoedema commonly begins within 1-3 years after Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Radiotherapy. With Early Detection, Stage 0-1 Lymphoedema may be fully reversible. Beyond that, a lifetime of Lymphoedema is likely.
Stages of Lymphoedema
Stage 0
Have trauma to lymph nodes
Lymphatic system damaged but functioning
Swelling not evident
Reversible
Stage 1
Accumulation of fluid and protein in tissue
Pitting may be present
Mild swelling (<20% excess)
Reversible
Stage 2
Swelling that does not reduce with elevation
Increase in adipose tissue and fibrosis
Moderate swelling (20-40% excess)
Can be effectively managed
Stage 3
Adipose and fibrotic issue may/may not show pitting
Severe swelling (>40% excess limb volume)
Can be effectively managed
Early Detection, Prevention & Monitoring Programme
At Stages 0-1, the fluid increase is usually not be visible to the eye.
Specific circumferential measurements together with Lymphatic Fluid Measurements using a specialised clinical Bioimpedance machine is required to detect and monitor changes in the lymphatic fluid volume. It is recommended to have the Lymphatic Fluid measured before surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy in order to have a baseline data to monitor for fluid volume changes throughout your recovery journey.
As Lymphoedema can set in anytime within 1-3 years post treatment, it is recommended to measure the Lymphatic Fluid every 3-6 months during this time. Studies have shown that 92% of patients on a Bioimpedance monitoring program within the first 3 years successfully prevent chronic lymphoedema.
*Lymphatic Fluid Bioimpedance Analysis can be performed for everyone except for the following: Persons with implanted Pacemaker / Electronic Devices; Pregnant ladies; Children
Treatment for Lymphoedema
Lymphoedema can be effectively prevented and managed with a personalised program planned out by our certified Lymphoedema Therapists at Allegro.
At Stages 0-1, Lymphoedema may be fully reversible; At Stages 2-3, Lymphoedema can be effectively managed and reduced.
The elements of an effective, gold-standard Lymphoedema treatment program include the following:
Proper Skin Care
Skin problems post surgery and radio/chemotherapy can cause local swelling that adds to the load of an already overloaded lymphatic system. Maintaining a sufficiently moisturised and clean skin environment aids in developing a strong skin barrier that is resistant to infections.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
This is a specialized form of massage done by our Certified Lymphoedema Therapists that helps drain lymphatic fluid and create new pathways around blocked areas. This ensures that fluid is guided out of the affected limb and back into the lymphatic system, allowing the limb to regain function in daily activities.
Compression
Together with a Manual Lymphatic Drainage program, appropriate pressure and compression is clinically effective in preventing further swelling. Depending on the swelling, your therapist will prescribe you the appropriate level of compression garments appropriate for your condition.
Decongestive Exercises
The lymphatic system relies on arm movements to move fluid through the vessels as muscles tighten and relax. Appropriate daily exercises have shown to be clinically effective in clearing fluid from the trunk, abdomen, shoulder, arm, and hand.