Weight Lifting Misconceptions

Introduction

The following are excerpts from the article by Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH to clarify misconceptions that have arisen regarding her study on exercise and lymphedema. [1]

Misconception #1: Weight Training Prevents Lymphedema
Wrong! There is no evidence that weight training prevents lymphedema and the original report on the study did not address this issue.

Misconception #2: If weight-lifting is safe, and all those years we told women not to weight-lift, then all those other cautions like avoiding blood pressure or blood draws on the affected side must be wrong too.
Wrong! Nothing from this study should be interpreted as commenting on any other risk reduction guidelines beyond those related to exercise with weights.

Misconception #3: The study results means that all women with lymphedema can buy weights or a gym membership and do what they want without fear of their lymphedema getting worse.
Wrong! The intervention was done in a controlled way. There are a number of features of the study that were too detail for the media reports and therefore were left out of these reports.

Misconception #4: If I do weight-lifting. I will never have another exacerbation.
Wrong! There were women in the PAL trial who experienced exacerbations due to weight-lifting. Most of them did not follow the safety guidelines.

Misconception #5: If it is safe for me to do weight-lifting, then it is okay for me to lift heavy things at work or at home. . .
Wrong! The PAL intervention started upper body exercise with 1 lb. dumbbells. Some women never progressed beyond 5 lb dumbbells on any exercise. Results will vary by prior fitness level and individual lymphedema and medical condition.

Misconception #6: The PAL trial results mean it is safe for those with lower extremity lymphedema to do weight-lifting too.
The PAL investigation team has tried a pilot study to find out whether it is safe for those with lower extremity lymphedema to do weight-lifting. The results are quire inconclusive and it is not appropriate at this time to extrapolate the results of the PAL trial to those with lower extremity lymphedema.

Reference

[1] The complete article can be found at this web address.

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Category: Living With Lymphedema Updated: 2010-01-18