Movement and activity for head and neck lymphoedema

Movement and activity for head and neck oedema

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 lymphoedema of your head and neck, sleep with 2 or 3 pillows to raise your head and help the fluid drain.

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.

Neck exercises

• Head turns – turn your head to look over your shoulder as far as you can, hold for 2 seconds. Slowly go back to the start position. Repeat on the other side. Keep your shoulders still while doing this exercise.
• Head tilt – tilt your head towards one shoulder until you feel a stretch on the opposite side. Hold for 2 seconds then straighten up. Repeat on the other side. Keep your shoulders still while you’re doing this exercise.
• Chin to chest – bend your neck down as far as you comfortably can so your chin is on your chest, hold for 2 seconds and then slowly bring your head back up so you are looking forward again.

Shoulder exercises

• Shoulders up and down – relax your shoulders, bring them up to your ears, relax then drop them back down. Repeat.
• Shoulder rotation – rotate your shoulder forward, then rotate them backwards.

Mouth exercises

• Open and close your mouth.
• Blow kisses, blow out imaginary candles.
• Smile – an exaggerated one.
• Say the vowels in an exaggerated way – a, e, i, o, u.
• Chew sugar free gum but only if you don’t have any swallowing problems.

Jaw exercises

• Side to side – slide your lower jaw one way and then the other.
• Jaw forward – push your lower jaw forward then relax and repeat it.

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