Start easy. A few days after surgery, you may want to begin with some very slow movements, a brief walk, raising and lowering your arms. Stick with very gentle exercises for six weeks after treatment. Initially, these exercises are less about building strength than helping to relieve pain and prevent scar tissue from forming. Paying close attention to your breathing plays a big role during this time—breath is a very powerful tool for managing pain.
Phase I of your rehabilitation which begins after the 6-week mark, should remain focused on breath work, posture, stretching, and mildly strengthening. When you feel strong enough to move on to Phase II, you will begin incorporating some strength building exercises into your regime and incorporate more parts of your body. From here you will want to progress slowly and at your own pace. Never push yourself beyond what is comfortable. In case you haven’t learned it by now, the idea of “no pain, no gain” is rubbish.
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