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Limb positioning and movement

Carefully positioning your affected limb when resting or sitting can help to prevent more swelling.

You can also use gravity to help drain away excess fluid. Always avoid sitting with your legs down if you can, as this causes the fluid to drain into your feet and calves. Moving your muscles helps to push fluid around the body, so regular gentle movement or exercise helps prevent fluid from collecting.

These tips will help you position your limb correctly.

If you have arm swelling:

when sitting down, rest your arm on a cushion placed on the arm of a chair so it’s fully supported
try not to rest your arm above shoulder height it - it may reduce blood flow to your arm and increase discomfort
raise your arm slightly on a pillow when you’re lying down
avoid carrying heavy shopping or other loads with your affected arm
be careful when you use your affected arm for activities that involve a lot of repeated stretching - some people find that too much activity can make the swelling worse, especially if they’re not used to it.

If you have leg swelling:

avoid crossing your legs when you’re sitting down
don’t sit with your legs down for long periods - either lie with your legs up on a sofa or fully supported on a footstool
get up and move about at least once an hour if you can
avoid standing still for long periods of time - if you have to stand, do the following exercises to stimulate the pump action of your muscles:
Raise yourself up on to your toes frequently to tense and relax your calf muscles.
Shift your weight from one leg to the other, and transfer your weight from heels to toes, as if walking on the spot.
Try rocking back on your heels and forward on to your toes a few times.

Content last reviewed: 1 August 2010

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Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ.