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Jump for Your Lymphatic System!

© Linda Bily

No, this is not an article about fund-raising! A few years ago when my lymphedema was difficult to manage, I came across an article about jump-starting your lymphatic system (no pun intended) by jumping on a trampoline. I was skeptical at best and also not very physically fit, due to chemo and the dreaded weight gain.

I did some research on the subject and, although I can find NO peer-reviewed medical journal articles about the subject, it has been the center of attention in several CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) websites and articles.

I borrowed a small round trampoline, probably about 24" in diameter, from a friend and set it up in the middle of my bedroom. (No way was I letting my kids make fun of my latest venture into the world of maintaining my lymphedema!) I stared at it for about a week. I finally took off my shoes, closed the door and stood on it in my socks. Being the impetuous person that I am, I bounced like a maniac. 1) It made me dizzy. 2) I almost fell off the thing 3) My legs were exhausted after about 5 bounces.

So, I decided to read some of the information again and formulate my own plan. Next time, I hardly bounced at all - just simply bent my knees and let the momentum raise me up slightly. (This is my warm-up - now I am down to 50 knee bends (no moving of the feet off the trampoline). Next, I do 100 gentle bounces - I don't jump more than 2" off the trampoline. I keep my arm movements limited(move sideways too much and you fall off the side). Then, I do 10 big jumps with arms flailing like a wacky jumping jack. Finally, it's back to 50 gentle bounces and 10 knee bends to cooldown.

I've been jumping on the trampoline (I bought my own now for $59) for about 3 years. Do I still have lymphedema? Yes, but I see my LE therapist much less than I used to. In the past, if I got a bug bite, cat scratch, too much sun or humidity on my left side, I ended up in therapy again for several weeks. Now, I can usually handle a small disturbance to the left side with additional self-massage and a prophylactic antibiotic. Besides helping keep the lymphedema manageable, it started to get me back in better physical condition. So much so, that I eventually joined a gym. (So, I still don't do upper arm strength exercises - my LE is in chest, neck and axilla - and any stress to that area makes it blow up again).