A Simple Flexibility Exercise for Patients with Cancer

When it comes to maintaining mobility during or after cancer treatment, the upper body and spine are often overlooked in favor of exercises for the arms and legs. This week, oncology physical therapist Dr. Leslie Waltke demonstrates a thoracic spine stretch, a simple flexibility exercise that can be done at home using nothing more than a wall or door frame.

Dr. Waltke explains that as we age, the thoracic spine, the upper portion of the back tends to tighten, causing a forward-hunching posture. Left unaddressed, this can lead to discomfort, reduced shoulder mobility, and even limited lung capacity. Keeping this area flexible matters for everyone, and it takes on added importance for those who've undergone radiation, lung surgery, breast cancer surgery, or melanoma surgery affecting the chest or upper body, since tightness often develops there as well.

To get started, find a section of wall or a doorway sturdy enough to lean against. Stand with your feet about one to two feet away from the wall, then slide down until your lower back rests as flat as possible against the surface. Bring your shoulders and thoracic spine back against the wall as much as you comfortably can, then finish by drawing your head back with your chin tucked down. For many patients, simply holding this position already produces a noticeable stretch through the upper back and chest.

For those ready to build on this foundation, Dr. Waltke suggests sliding the elbows and arms up the wall while keeping them in contact with the surface, pausing three to five seconds at the top to feel the stretch between the shoulder blades and along the spine, then lowering back down with control. That lift, pause, lower rhythm is what makes the stretch effective, and it can be repeated for one to three repetitions to start, building toward five to ten as flexibility improves.

As with most exercises during cancer treatment and recovery, frequency should be guided by how tight the area feels. Dr. Waltke recommends four to five times per week for significant tightness, while those who find it more comfortable can do it once or twice a week, or even once or twice a month as a maintenance stretch.

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