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Healthcare Information

Arm and shoulder exercises for lymphoedema

How to do the exercises

It’s important to do the exercises in the order they are shown. You should do all exercises slowly and gently. This is because fast movements will not allow lymph fluid to drain properly. Try to do these exercises 3 or 4 times a day.

An illustration showing someone opening and closing their hand. — 1. Open and close your hand

1. Open and close your hand

An illustration showing someone moving their wrist up and down, closing and opening their fist. — 2. Move your wrist forward and back

2. Move your wrist forward and back

An illustration showing a woman bending her right elbow and raising her fist to her shoulder. — 3. Bend and straighten your elbow

3. Bend and straighten your elbow

An illustration showing a woman rolling her shoulders. — 4. Roll your shoulders backwards

4. Roll your shoulders backwards

An illustration showing someone raising their above their head. — 5. Raise your arm from your side up above your head and gently lower back down

5. Raise your arm from your side up above your head and gently lower back down

An illustration showing a woman raising her arms out sideways. — 6. Raise your arms up towards the ceiling and gently lower back down

6. Raise your arms up towards the ceiling and gently lower back down

Quality assurance

This information was published in May 2024. We will revise it in May 2026.