You should continue to be active after breast surgery. The following video guide is prepared by the Physiotherapists from our team to get you started on the exercises so that you can get back your strength and flexibility. Progressive exercises will help you to strengthen and stretch as well as improve your posture and overall fitness.
You may find a physiotherapist through the online directory from the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia.
Your Video Guide To Exercises After Breast Surgery
- Chapter 8.1: Overview
- Chapter 8.2: Exercises for immediately after/first week after your breast surgery
- Chapter 8.3: Exercises for the second week onwards after your breast surgery
- Chapter 8.4: Special care and long term recovery after your breast surgery
Chapter 8.1: Overview
This is a brief overview of the process of breast surgery with guidance on general activities, comfortable positions, and general recovery time line after breast surgery.
If you have any questions, you may contact the physiotherapy team at PBCPhysiotherapy@phc.ca.
Chapter 8.2: Exercises after breast surgery – immediately after breast surgery and during the first week
You should follow this video to perform exercises immediately after and during the first week of your breast surgery to help with recovery. You may download the exercise guidebook Exercises After Breast Surgery from the Canadian Cancer Society to use with the video.
⇩ Exercises After Breast Surgery from the Canadian Cancer Society
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Chapter 8.3: Exercises for the following weeks – second week onwards
You should follow this video to perform exercises from the second week onwards of your breast surgery to help to build strength and improve mobility.
Chapter 8.4: Recovery and special care
You should follow this video to perform exercises after six weeks from your breast surgery to help to continue to build strength for long term recovery. Special conditions of cording and lymphedema are discussed in the video.
If you have any questions, you may contact the physiotherapy team at PBCPhysiotherapy@phc.ca.
How to Find a Physiotherapist
- Find Physiotherapy in BC – You may use the online directory from the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia to find a clinic or physiotherapist in British Columbia.
Additional Resources
- Exercises after surgery from the BC Cancer – Information with handouts and videos on after breast cancer surgery exercises
- The National Lymphedema Network
Return to Your Video Guide to Prepare for Breast Surgery
Last updated: March 2026