Movement and activity for chronic leg oedema and Lymphoedema

Movement and activity for chronic leg oedema and lymphoedema

Move within your capability.

Movement and activity help your body’s circulation. This might help reduce swelling. It makes the muscles contract and pushes oedema through lymph vessels.

If you notice any signs of infection to your treatment area; such as redness, heat, swelling, discharge and you may feel unwell – seek medical attention by contacting your GP or 111 if out of hours.

Positioning yourself at rest

When you’re sitting or lying down, it helps to position yourself in a way that helps the lymph to drain. With leg oedema, when at rest try not to sit with your legs down. Instead, either lie up on the sofa or put your leg up on a stool or chair.

Make sure you fully support your leg with a cushion or pillow under the knee. Also, try to avoid sitting for long periods of time.

Deep breathing

• You can do these breathing exercises while sitting up in a chair or in bed, or while lying down.
• Relax your shoulders and upper chest.
• Rest one of your hands below your ribs.
• Take a slow, deep, comfortable breath in through your nose, feeling your hand rise as your tummy (abdomen) rises.
• Then slowly breathe out through your mouth, so your abdomen is flat again.
• Do this 5 times.

Leg oedema

• Wear your compression garment when you’re exercising if you have one. Try to do some exercises every day.
• Try to repeat each exercise 5 to 10 times.
• Marching – you can march on the spot or do this sitting down, lift one knee and then put it down, then lift the other knee and put it down.
• Hip rotations – bring your foot forward and draw a semi-circle, keep your other knee slightly bent, hold on to a stable surface if you need help with your balance
• Curl your toes up and then stretch them out.
• Knee exercises – sit on a chair and do marching
• Lift your foot off the floor then straighten and bend your leg.
• Ankle raises – raise your heels off the floor so you feel a squeeze in your calf muscles, relax down so your feet are flat on the floor then repeat.
• With your heel on the floor point your toes away from you then pull your toes towards your chin, you can do this sitting in a recliner chair or lying in bed.
• Lift your foot off the floor or bed, then circle your ankle clockwise, then anticlockwise.
• Other types of exercise can also help to get your leg muscles moving, such as walking, swimming or cycling.

Useful addresses and phone numbers

Contact Numbers for Leeds Cancer Support

Information lounge level Minus 2 Radiotherapy department
Open Monday to Friday from 8:00am – 6:00pm
Tel: (0113) 206 7603

Information centre Level 1 Outpatients department
Open Monday to Friday from 10:00am – 4:00pm
Tel: (0113) 206 8816

Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan centre
Open Monday to Friday from 10:00am – 4:00pm
Tel: (0113) 206 6498

All above services can be emailed on: [email protected]

You can contact the Lymphoedema department Monday to Friday during the day. Hours can vary; Tel: 0113 392 1807