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  • Lymphedema Fibrosis Treatment
    Lymphedema

    Lymphedema Fibrosis Treatment

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    Cancer Rehab

    Breast Cancer Cording Exercises and Techniques

  • Cording Exercises Breast Cancer
    Cancer Rehab

    Cording Exercises Breast Cancer

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Leg
Cancer rehab - lymphatic drainage for both legs.
Lymphatic Drainage Guides Lymphedema

Manual Lymphatic Drainage Guide for Both Legs – Digital

$15.00
Head | Neck | Face
head neck face lymphatic drainage guide illustrations
Lymphatic Drainage Lymphedema

Head, Neck and Face Manual Lymphatic Drainage Guide – Digital

$15.00
Leg
A stack of printed handouts titled Exercises for Leg Swelling and Lymphedema by Kelly Sturm, featuring exercise demonstrations and professional credentials, offers helpful guidance for those managing leg swelling.
Exercises Guides Lymphedema

Exercises for Leg Swelling and Lymphedema

$10.00

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Reclaim Control of Your Life

Cancer and lymphedema physical therapy to beat uncomfortable symptoms and feel stronger by Kelly Sturm.

Pain, limitations, and discomfort are common -
That does not make them normal.

Many people who are affected by cancer and lymphedema get told that chronic discomfort and pain are now their “new normal.” This could not be further from the truth. You don’t have to assume that living with pain is now your only option. 

Physical therapy for lymphedema and cancer can help you minimize your symptoms and maximize your life. Empowering with education is the reason why Cancer Rehab PT exists. 

I’m so glad you’re here

Hi, I’m Kelly

Doctor of Physical Therapy (PT, DPT), Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT-LANA), Board-Certified Oncology Clinical Specialist. I have over a decade of experience with lymphedema & oncology physical therapy, and I know that you can reclaim control of your life with the right education and resources. I share programs, exercises, and product recommendations to help you do it. 

more about me
A woman with long wavy hair wearing a sleeveless light blue blouse and dark jeans stands smiling against a plain white background, embodying the positive spirit of lymphedema physical therapy specialist Kelly Sturm.
Kelly Sturm, a cancer rehab PT, stands at a table folding brown fabric. With long brown hair and dressed in a white sleeveless top and blue jeans, she works among folded clothes and fabric rolls on the table.

Lymphedema & Cancer Rehabilitation Products

Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links, If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, we may receive a small commission. Full statement here.

honey and mocha colored breast form shapers laying side by side
American Breast Care (ABC)

ABC AllSil™ Satin Massage Form® Shaper

woman wearing black post-mastectomy bra, holding strap
American Breast Care (ABC)

ABC 619 Restore Bra

Post-mastectomy Bra
CAKES body grippy circle bra inserts with pink box and pink background
CAKES

CAKES body – bra inserts

KELLYSTURM for 10% off
Anaono HuggerPRIMA Bra in pink
Prairie Wear

HuggerPRIMA Bra

High to Medium Compression and Coverage
CANCERREHABPT for 10% off
beige bra with red flower for breast swelling
Prairie Wear

HuggerVIDA Bra

CANCERREHABPT for 10% off
Gray solaris breast Swell spot
Lohmann and Rauscher

L&R SwellSpot Pad, Breast

gray swellspot with padded foam for swelling in the breast and chest
Lohmann and Rauscher

L&R SwellSpots, Lateral Bra Pad

Thuasne Mobiderm Intimate Bra
Thuasne

Thuasne Mobiderm Intimate Bra

Anaono Rora Bra
Anaono

Rora Bra

A highly popular front closure bra
CANCERREHABPT for 15% off
Anaono Monica Bra in Sienna
Anaono

Monica Bra

Perfect for those undergoing radiation or chemotherapy
CANCERREHABPT for 15% off
Sigvaris Doff N Donner - Rolly
Sigvaris

Sigvaris Doff N’ Donner – Rolly

Cone Sold Separately
Sigvaris Doff N' Donner - Cone
Sigvaris

Sigvaris Doff N’ Donner – Cone

Rolly Sold Separately
thuasne mobiderm autofit arm sleeve
Thuasne

Thuasne Autofit Arm Sleeve

Circaid Reduction Kit Toe Cap Mild to Moderate Compression in beige
mediven

CircAid Reduction Kit Toe Cap

L&R USA (Solaris) Tribute Wrap Glove Left in black
Lohmann and Rauscher

L&R Tribute Wrap Glove

Right and left available separately
L&R USA (Solaris) ExoStrong Armsleeve w/Silicone Top 20-30 mmHg
Lohmann and Rauscher

L&R ExoStrong Armsleeve w/Silicone Top 20-30 mmHg

Juzo Easy Pad in black
Juzo

Juzo Easy Pad

Ames Walker Coolmax Knee High Socks 20-30 mmHg in black
Ames Walker

Ames Walker Coolmax Knee High Socks 20-30 mmHg

Thuasne Mobiderm Autofit Thigh High in beige color
Thuasne

Thuasne Mobiderm Autofit Thigh High

Medi Hosiery Wash (16 oz.) with white bottle and pink text
mediven

Medi Hosiery Wash (16 oz.)

woman facing to the side, holding a light tan padded neck garment to her jaw and below the ears
JOBST

JoViPak Neck Pad, Peri-Auricular

Used under JoVi Chin Strap
Code CRPTKELLY for 10% off
Woman wearing white chin strap
JOBST

JoViPak Chin Strap

To be used with JoViPak Pads
Code CRPTKELLY for 10% off
male with black foam, padded compression garment on head, neck, and to jaw
Lohmann and Rauscher

L&R Tribute Wrap – Head & Neck

silver vibration plate with black surface
Power Plate

Power Plate – Vibration Plate

Lifepro Rumblex 4D vibration plate in blue
LifePro Fitness

LifePro – Rumblex 4D Vibration Plate

Code KELLY for 10% off
Black rebounder with black handle bars and springs
BCAN

BCAN – Bungee Rebounder

gray vibration plate for home
LifePro Fitness

Lifepro Waver Vibration Plate

10% off website with the link
Bellicon Rebounder in black with white springs
Bellicon

Bellicon Rebounder

Customize your own
blue, long soft foam roller
Amazon

OPTP Soft Foam Roller

soft myofascial ball, blue
Amazon

Soft Myofascial Ball

Blue foam balance pad
Amazon

Balance Pad

soft myofascial ball, blue
Amazon

Dumbbells

What I use at home. Various weights and colors available
blue large exercise ball
Amazon

Exercise Ball

Various sizes and colors available
white backgroun, navy and black compression short for females
Thuasne

Thuasne Mobiderm Intimate Shorts – Females

Gray foam padded Labial Pad for swelling
Lohmann and Rauscher

L&R Labial SwellSpot

Vaginal Dilators in different sizes and colors
Intimate Rose

Intimate Rose – Vaginal Dilators – Small

Code KELLY39 for $5 off
Vaginal Dilators in 4 different sizes and colors in medium
Intimate Rose

Intimate Rose – Vaginal Dilators – Medium

Code KELLY39 for $5 off
Vaginal Dilators in 4 different sizes and colors - size large
Intimate Rose

Intimate Rose – Vaginal Dilators – Large

Code KELLY39 for $5 off
gray foam, padded compression pad for genital swelling
Lohmann and Rauscher

L&R Oval SwellSpot

legs wearing black compression short pants
Juzo

Juzo Dynamic Compression Short

Shop All Products

CANCER AND LYMPHEDEMA PHYSICAL THERAPY

Online Programs & Courses

breast cancer rehab on desktop screen with keyboard on light table

Breast Cancer Rehab

Decrease uncomfortable side effects of treatment, build up strength, and redefine your new normal with & after breast cancer.
View Program
lower body lymphedema rehab with resource website on phone screen

Lower Body Lymphedema Rehab

Reduce swelling and discomfort with physical therapy exercises and self-care practices that easily fit into your everyday life.
View Program
healthy shoulder program website on tablet screen sitting on woven table

Healthy Shoulder Program

Minimize shoulder pain, improve mobility, and prevent lymphedema with a 12-week exercise program to feel strong again.
View Program
A person wearing a white garment is pressing and examining the skin on their upper thigh with both hands, possibly checking for left thigh swelling or other related issues.
Read on the Blog

Why Is Only My Left Leg Swelling? Main Causes + What to Do

Are you wondering why is only my left leg swelling? Here are the main causes of left leg swelling, with the main focus on leg lymphedema.
Keep Reading

watch

Access more free education & exercises on YouTube

Browse hundreds of videos on cancer rehabilitation & lymphedema therapy to minimize symptoms and get back to what’s most important in life.

watch now

LYMPHEDEMA & ONCOLOGY PHYSICAL THERAPY

Digital Guides

Full Body
Dry brushing the body for lymphatic drainage handouts
Lymphatic Drainage Dry Brushing

Dry Brushing Body Diagram for Lymphatic Drainage – Digital

$12.50
Full Body
face and body lymphatic drainage diagram guide
Lymphatic Drainage

Lymphatic Drainage Diagram for the Face + Body – Digital

$18.00
Full Body
lymphatic drainage of the body diagram
Lymphatic Drainage Lymphedema

Lymphatic Drainage Diagram for the Body – Digital

$10.00
Full Body
full body plus face lymphatic drainage guide handouts
Lymphatic Drainage

Face + Full Body Lymphatic Drainage Guide – Digital

$23.00
Breast | Chest
Booklet covers titled Beginner Exercises for Arm Mobility after Surgery. Includes text about oncology physical therapy, arm mobility, and creator details: Kelly Sturm, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA. Perfect for those starting with beginner stretches for breast cancer recovery. Features small images of a woman exercising.
Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Stretches for Recovery – Beginner

$15.00
Shop All Guides

Are you a Health Professional?

Deepen your expertise and get a license to use reputable educational and exercise handouts in your practice to maximize patient care and make an even bigger difference.

courses + events
breast cancer collection
lymphedema bundle

CANCER & LYMPHEDEMA PHYSICAL THERAPY BLOG

Tips, exercises, and
recommendations to help you
feel better

  • Lymphedema Fibrosis Treatment
    Lymphedema

    Lymphedema Fibrosis Treatment

    Learn about lymphedema fibrosis treatment options and how to manage your lymphedema to prevent fibrosis from developing.

  • Breast Cancer Cording Exercises and Techniques
    Cancer Rehab

    Breast Cancer Cording Exercises and Techniques

    Try these gentle breast cancer cording exercises and techniques to help get rid of cording and improve mobility.

  • Cording Exercises Breast Cancer
    Cancer Rehab

    Cording Exercises Breast Cancer

    Try these gentle cording exercises for after breast cancer surgery to help get rid of cording and improve mobility.

  • Lymphedema Treatment: 10 Ways to Reduce Swelling
    Lymphedema

    Lymphedema Treatment: 10 Ways to Reduce Swelling

    Lymphedema treatment includes compression therapy, manual lymph drainage, exercise, and skin care to reduce swelling and manage symptoms.

  • Side Effects of Radiation for Breast Cancer & What to Do
    Breast Cancer

    Side Effects of Radiation for Breast Cancer & What to Do

    Learn more about the side effects of radiation for breast cancer and how to improve them from a board-certified oncology clinical specialist.

  • Lymphatic Drainage Massage for Lymphedema: How It Works
    Lymphedema

    Lymphatic Drainage Massage for Lymphedema: How It Works

    Lymphatic drainage massage for lymphedema reduces swelling, improves lymph flow, and makes you feel more comfortable.

see full blog library

start with these

Free Resources

lymphedema self-care and treatment guide handouts stacked on white background

Lymphedema Self-Care and Treatment Guide

A comprehensive guide to help you understand the benefits, importance, and tools of lymphedema management and self-care.

From an in-depth overview of various treatments available to building daily success habits and a self-care plan, use this guide to manage and reduce swelling.

Download Now
Exercises after Breast Cancer Surgery and Radiation

Exercises after Breast Cancer Surgery and Radiation

Learn stretching and strengthening exercises to relieve chest and shoulder tightness, pain, and weakness.

These exercises are fun and easy to do at home!

Download Now
Vibration plates. Yes, they have been Trending! D Vibration plates. Yes, they have been Trending!

Do you have one?!

Here’s what they do.

The rapid vibrations cause your muscles to contract.
This supports drainage and circulation.

Early research even shows potential for bone density improvements.

They also can be gentler on your joints than rebounding or high-impact exercise (although everyone is different).

One 12-week study showed people improved both blood pressure AND balance from exercises on a vibration plate.

Now - 
There ARE contraindications you need to know about.

Always get clearance from your doctor before using one.

But if you have one and Want routines and exercises to try - You can find a handful on my YouTube channel.

simply comment
YTVIBRATION for the direct link.
Step 7 drops today! 🔥 That tight rope-like feelin Step 7 drops today! 🔥

That tight rope-like feeling under your arm has a name: axillary cording.

Up to 86% of women develop it after breast surgery. But most have never heard of it before feeling it themselves.

You notice it when reaching overhead. It feels like a guitar string pulling from your armpit to your wrist. Sometimes it's painful, always limiting.

Here's what your medical team might not have mentioned: Cording involves inflammation, clotted lymphatic vessels, and scar tissue. There is even new information showing cords may show up BEFORE surgery for those diagnosed. (More to come on that...)

 About 90% resolve naturally within 3 months. But gentle exercises can help it resolve faster and with less pain.❤️‍🩹

The problem is most women try to stretch through it aggressively. That often doesn't help and may just add pain.

Step 7 of the Breast Recovery Roadmap teaches gentle approaches to try first.

➕Bye bye waves that gradually mobilize a cord.
➕Soft tissue techniques you can do yourself.
➕Progressive stretches that respect your body's healing timeline.

After working with hundreds of people with stubborn cording, I am sharing a few exercises that helped the most individuals.

Start gentle, be consistent.

Step 7 is available in the roadmap now. ⭐

Follow me, then comment 'ROADMAP' for the full roadmap and access to past (and future) steps

One final Step coming in 2 weeks!
I get asked all the time, “What oils or lotions sh I get asked all the time, “What oils or lotions should I use with lymphatic drainage?”

The truth? Lymphatic drainage works best on clean, dry skin. 

Lymphatic drainage is all about a gentle skin stretch. This is what helps move fluid through the lymphatic vessels and toward lymph nodes.

Traditionally, we don’t use oils or lotions because they make the skin slippery and reduce that stretch.

But… life happens and something is always better than nothing.  If adding a few lymphatic drainage strokes while you put on your lotion, oil, or serum helps you stay consistent, then that’s okay. 

Here’s what I recommend:
 💧 Follow the typical lymphatic sequence with correct direction
 💆‍♀️ Use consistent pressure
 ⏱ Spend an extra minute or two (or 5) so the skin still has some traction

I’m always of the mindset: Consistency > perfection.
“I hope this could be useful for those who, like m “I hope this could be useful for those who, like me at the beginning, had a lot of questions and were trying to find information, real photos, and people. It was hard.”

I read this in an email a couple of weeks ago.

This is the gap!

Patients leave their surgeon’s office with drains and instructions to “take it easy.”

But no one mentions cording might show up in 2 weeks.

Or that the tightness could last months.

Or what lymphedema actually looks like.

So you Google at 2am trying to find someone who gets it.

That shouldn’t be your job.

But until the system catches up, we’ll keep showing up here with the real stuff - the photos, the exercises, the truth about what comes next.

Thank you to YOU all for supporting each other - these images have been donated. Someone who kindly shared her cording image said the above quote.

And she shared it so at least one person scrolling might see what they’re experiencing and finally get answers.

You’re not alone in this search. 💕

If you’d like to donate an anonymous image of a side effect (lymphedema, seromas, fibrosis, etc.) to help others, send me a DM.
Your body may be dropping hints. -Swelling that w Your body may be dropping hints.

-Swelling that won't quit.
-Brain fog.
-Getting sick more often.
-Stiffness and that exhausted feeling.

These aren't things to ignore - your lymphatic system needs support.

BUT!! You don't need to spend hours. A simple 5-minute morning routine can be helpful, too!

Lymphatic drainage helps move fluid, reduce inflammation, and support your immune system.

Whether you have lymphedema or just want to feel better, this can help. 😊

And you can do it before your coffee's ready. 💁🏼‍♀️
Give yourself credit for what you’re able to do, n Give yourself credit for what you’re able to do, not what you can’t.

This time of year can make your regular lymphedema routine feel impossible.

Maybe you’re traveling. Or hosting family. Or just trying to keep up with everything on your list.

If you can’t do your full self-care routine right now, that’s okay.

Even doing one thing helps:

-Wearing your compression garments
-A few minutes of movement
-Staying hydrated

Small, consistent steps still make a difference.

Your lymphedema care doesn’t have to be perfect to be helpful and as I always say: something is better than nothing. 🫶

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Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links. Cancer Rehab PT LLC participates in the Amazon Associates Program and others as an affiliate linking to products Kelly organically uses and trusts. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced to help you make the best choice for yourself. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same, but we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for your support!

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