Lawn Mowing = Good Therapy for Lymphedema

Rague
Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
YUP - that's what I was told yesterday at PT.

Yesterday morning, I had an appt. with PT as I had realized that my ROM in wrist especially and shoulder has decreased a bit. Got a couple different exercises to do but basically was told that it's the lymphedema probably.

We were talking about all the stuff I do with the horses and other stuff - was told to keep doing it (planned to anyway). Anywho - I'm a 'nut' that loves to mow my grass with my push mower. I mentioned that last summer when I was mowing my yard every 2 -3 days (I hate dandelion flowers) I had less issues with lymphedema. She told me that the holding the handle and bar to keep mower running, pushing it and the constant vibration of the engine was actually good. So when I got home, I got Hubby to start the mower (it's a pull start and I can't get it started - never have been able to unless it has already been started within an hour - he swears that IF he can find a non-self propelled mower WITH an electric start he's getting it for me for my birthday - don't think he will find one though - so if he's not home I get neighborhood boys to start it for me in exchange for something off the "popsicle" truck that comes by daily). Grass really isn't growing enough yet to NEED mowing but there were some Dande heads so I mowed the yard anyway. Guess what - this morning upper arm and elbow are down 2 cm and wrist down .5cm. Hadn't done anything else different than daily.

So mowing, I will be doing!

Susan

Comments

  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #2
    Shhhhh.....
    Don't let my husband know or he will expect me to mow also. In CA the lawn needs mowing about 9-10 months a year. Right now we have our college age son (who goes to school nearby) come home every couple of weeks. In return for lawn mowing services I fix him a nice dinner with enough leftovers to take back to his apt. For my own lymphedema prevention I rake the lawn and brush our very furry Golden Retriever. It looks like you are having great results with your lawn mowing. IRENE
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #3
    jessiesmom1 said:

    Shhhhh.....
    Don't let my husband know or he will expect me to mow also. In CA the lawn needs mowing about 9-10 months a year. Right now we have our college age son (who goes to school nearby) come home every couple of weeks. In return for lawn mowing services I fix him a nice dinner with enough leftovers to take back to his apt. For my own lymphedema prevention I rake the lawn and brush our very furry Golden Retriever. It looks like you are having great results with your lawn mowing. IRENE

    Hubby HATES to mow
    and I love to mow but I HATE to weed-eat so I mow as often as I want and he does weed-eating every few times I mow - definately not every time though LOL. Here in western SD (So Dak - not to be confused with San Diego) I only get to mow 3 - 4 months a year - less when drought. We're both Floridians (me native, him from 4 or 5 y/o) so yard work is norm. We spent 39 mths at NWC China Lake (Ridgecrest,CA) and yeah I got to do a lot of yard work most of the time there.

    HUMM - Do you like/want a horse? Good excuse to get one. We have horses and one of the things I was told by the PT is that grooming and riding horses is great - Going to even if bad - just part of me being me/alive. You (or anyone else) might look into volunteering at a NARHA facilty ( www.narha.org ) in your area if you are 'into' horses at all. They do fantastic 'things' and give so much to the volunteers.

    Susan

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