Breast Cancer Patients Should Say No to Shoulder Shrugs

I’m taking a stand.  Actually I took the stand a long time ago.  I’m just saying it loudly now.

Do NOT use shoulder shrugs as a recovery exercise from surgery.

If you’ve got aches and pains through the chest and shoulder, if you’re trying to stretch and move and get active again, if you’re ready to grab hold and get back to a life you love with vitality, passion, and action, then shrugs are not for you.

After breast cancer surgery the healing process causes scar tissue and the skin and muscles tighten up.  So you naturally roll your shoulders forward (look in the mirror and tell me if I’m right).

What you’re ready, and have consent to start active movement therapy, you need to stretch through the chest (pec muscles) and front of the shoulders.

Watch my Vlog (click the video above or go to my YouTube Channel) and see if you agree with my reasons for going against the grain and saying NO to shoulder shrugs.  

The Five Reasons I Don’t Want You To Shrug

1. You’re re-enforcing an improper body posture
2. You’re using the wrong muscles to try and move the shoulders
3. You’re increasing your risk of Frozen Shoulder
4. You’re ‘training your brain’ to increase neural input to the wrong muscles causing the right muscles to become weaker
5. You’re increasing neck tightness and decreasing neck flexibility