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Exercising & Activewear

I have heard over and over again from providers that compression works best while exercising and moving. I’m honestly not sure if it makes a big difference for me, but regardless, staying active is extremely important for all around health.


As someone with physical disabilities, my exercise options are a little limited, but I have still been able to find activities that I have grown to love.


The first is swimming. I am lucky enough to have had a swimming pool in my backyard my whole life. As such, even before cancer, swimming was something I really enjoyed and did all summer long. I joined my high school swim team a year-out from finishing cancer treatment and swam competitively for the next three years. 


The thing I love most about the water is that many of the limitations I experience on land aren’t there in the pool. When I was recovering from my hip surgery, I couldn’t walk without crutches for a little over a year, but in the water I could swim freely and rebuild some of my strength. Swimming is an activity that you can’t wear compression for, but luckily water provides enough natural compression that it isn’t needed. 


The next is trampolining. Not long ago, I read an article with research indicating that trampolining or “rebounding” is effective in increasing lymph flow. In addition to its positive health impacts, it seemed like something I might really enjoy, so I purchased an individual sized trampoline with a handlebar from Target. I have used it a few different times and although it has been pretty successful in getting my lymph moving and heart pumping, I often overdo it and end up sore, so I’m taking a little break for now. 


Yoga is also something I have gotten into in recent years. Yoga may seem like a very gentle exercise, but it actually activates a lot of muscles and helps lymph fluid movement. Something I love about yoga is that you can do it pretty much anywhere - whether it be at a studio with an instructor, at home with a youtube demo, or free-styled outdoors. 


While these are activities I do pretty routinely, I also try to challenge myself with things that are maybe a little out of my comfort zone every once in a while, such as rock climbing or going for a bike ride. Whatever the exercise is, though, the important thing is that you are moving. Even something as simple as going for a walk can help in keeping your lymph system and body in good health. 


As for activewear, a general rule of thumb is the stretchier the better. 


Personally, I like to buy my leggings or yoga pants from the activewear section at Target. I recommend trying to feel for how much stretch the pants have as you’re looking, and trying them on in the dressing room before deciding to make a purchase. 


It depends on the activity, but sometimes you can get away with wearing something different from leggings or sweats. For things like yoga, trampolining, or biking, I sometimes mix it up with loose-fitting lightweight pants. Exercise shorts are also great for wearing over your compression and keeping cool.


As embarrassing as they are to admit, I’m sure a lot of you can relate to the struggles of trying to pull on pants in a dressing room and not having them fit over your lymphie leg(s), or busting the seams of leggings that used to fit. Shopping for exercise clothes as a lymphie can be frustrating, but hopefully these tips make it easier and show you that you’re not alone in your struggles.


Picture from Summer 2019: Beach yoga with flowy pants purchased at Old Navy 

Picture from Spring 2019: Indoor rock-climbing with leggings purchased at Target

Pictures from Summer 2020: Trampolining / Rebounding in flowy pants and shorts

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