Exercise and everyday life with lymphoedema

Keep moving

Exercise is safe and helps. When muscles work, they pump lymph fluid out of the limb.

Walking, swimming, cycling and gentle stretching are all good.
Strength training with weights or bands is safe for arm lymphoedema after breast cancer. Start light and increase slowly, ideally with guidance from a therapist.
Wearing your sleeve during exercise is optional. Do what feels comfortable.
Increase exercise gradually. Sudden very heavy effort can make swelling worse for a while.

Keep a healthy weight

Extra body weight makes lymphoedema harder to control. Losing weight, if you are overweight, is one of the most useful things you can do.

Things you may have heard

Blood pressure and injections: There is no good evidence that having blood pressure taken, blood drawn or an injection in the arm causes or worsens lymphoedema. If your other arm can be used, that is fine too.
Flying: Air travel has not been shown to cause lymphoedema. If you already have lymphoedema, wear your garment on long flights and move around.
Heat: Hot weather can make swelling worse for a while. Heat does not cause lymphoedema. Saunas and very hot baths are best avoided if they make your swelling worse.
Diet: No special diet treats lymphoedema. A healthy diet that helps you control your weight is best.
Water tablets (diuretics): These do not help lymphoedema and may make it worse, unless you need them for another condition such as heart failure.

When to see your doctor

See your doctor if the swelling suddenly gets much worse, becomes painful, or a new swelling appears, especially if you have had cancer.

General information based on the Lymphoedema Evidence Library (www.vascular.co.za/lymph-evidence.html), 31 October 2026. It does not replace advice from your own doctor or therapist.