Post-mastectomy Recovery: How Physiotherapy Helps Women Heal After A Mastectomy

 A mastectomy is not just a surgical procedure—it is a life-changing event that affects a woman’s physical, emotional, and functional well-being. While the surgery is performed to treat or prevent breast cancer, the recovery journey extends well beyond the operating room. One of the most important pillars of postoperative rehabilitation is physical therapy (physiotherapy). It helps women regain strength, mobility, confidence, and control over their daily lives. With the right physiotherapy care, recovery becomes smoother, faster, and significantly more comfortable.

 

Understanding the Impact of Mastectomy on the Body

A mastectomy involves removing breast tissue, and depending on the type of surgery, muscles, lymph nodes, or surrounding structures may also be affected. This leads to several common physical challenges:

• Shoulder stiffness and restricted arm movement
• Pain around the chest wall, underarm, or upper back
• Postural changes due to surgical discomfort or muscle imbalance
• Swelling (lymphedema) due to lymph node removal
• Scar tightness and adhesions
• Fatigue, weakness, and reduced tolerance for daily activities
• Physical therapy is designed to address these challenges safely and effectively—ensuring that women return to their routine with greater ease and confidence.

 

Why Physical Therapy Is Essential After a Mastectomy?

Restores Shoulder and Arm Mobility

Post-surgery, many women experience tightness around the shoulder and chest area, making it difficult to lift their arms or perform simple tasks like combing hair or reaching overhead. Physiotherapy includes gentle, progressive mobility exercises that help restore full range of motion without stressing the surgical site. Early movement (as recommended by the surgeon) also prevents long-term stiffness or “frozen shoulder.”

1. Reduces Pain and Postoperative Discomfort

Pain after a mastectomy is common, especially around the chest, underarm, and upper back. Physiotherapists use a combination of techniques such as:

• Gentle manual therapy
• Myofascial release
• Soft tissue mobilization
• Guided stretching
• These help relax tight muscles, reduce nerve irritation, and improve overall comfort.

2. Prevents and Manages Lymphedema

Lymphedema—swelling caused by lymph fluid buildup—is one of the most significant postoperative complications, especially when lymph nodes are removed. Physiotherapists trained in Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) can help with:

• Manual lymphatic drainage
• Pneumatic Compression therapy
• Skin care education
• Targeted exercises that support lymphatic flow
• Early physiotherapy intervention significantly reduces the risk of chronic lymphedema.

3. Improves Posture and Strength

After surgery, women often protect the surgical area by rounding their shoulders or avoiding certain movements. Over time, this can lead to poor posture, muscle weakness, and neck or back pain. A physiotherapist designs a personalized strengthening programme that focuses on:

• Upper back and shoulder blade muscles
• Core stability
• Deep breathing exercises to expand the chest wall
• Correcting posture early plays a huge role in long-term physical comfort.

4. Enhances Scar Healing and Tissue Flexibility

Scar tissue can become tight or form adhesions, restricting movement and causing discomfort. Physiotherapists use gentle scar-mobilization techniques (only after the incision has healed completely) to improve skin elasticity and prevent long-term tightness. They also teach patients how to safely perform self-scar massage at home.

5. Helps Women Return to Daily Activities and Work

Everyday activities—cooking, cleaning, exercising, lifting, or even sleeping comfortably—can become challenging after surgery. Physical therapy focuses on functional rehabilitation so that women regain independence safely and confidently. Therapists also guide them on how to gradually resume fitness routines, sports, and recreational activities.

 

When Should Physical Therapy Start?

The timeline varies depending on the type of surgery, whether reconstruction was done, and the surgeon’s protocol. Generally:

• Gentle exercises begin within 1–2 days after surgery
• A structured physiotherapy program usually starts 2–3 weeks post-surgery
• More intensive strengthening begins once healing is well established
• A physiotherapist will coordinate with the surgical team to create an appropriate plan.

 

Home Exercises That May Be Recommended

Physiotherapists often teach simple movements that patients can perform at home:

• Deep breathing and chest expansion exercises
• Arm circles and shoulder rolls
• Wall-climbing exercises
• Gentle stretching for the chest and underarm
• Strengthening using resistance bands (later in recovery)
• These exercises help maintain mobility, reduce tightness, and speed up healing—but they should only be done under professional guidance, especially in the early weeks.

 

Why Professional Guidance Matters?

Every woman’s mastectomy journey is unique. Factors like radiation therapy, reconstruction, pre-existing conditions, and overall fitness influence recovery. A physiotherapist ensures that exercises are safe, personalized, and progressed at the right pace to avoid complications.

Attempting unsupervised exercises or delaying rehabilitation can lead to long-term issues such as chronic pain, persistent swelling, or restricted mobility.

Physical therapy plays a vital role in helping women recover holistically after a mastectomy. It reduces pain, restores movement, prevents complications like lymphedema, enhances posture, and supports emotional healing. With expert physiotherapy care, women can reclaim strength, comfort, and independence—one step, one stretch, and one breath at a time.