DE physical trainer offers classes for lymphedema patients
Lymphedema is a disease that affects your limbs and can cause them to swell up. But there are different ways to help reduce the symptoms and calm the swelling, such as exercising. John Lehne, a physical trainer in Milton, Delaware wants to help those who are suffering, including his mother in-law Cynthia Martin.
It wasn’t until after Martin was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 that Lehne got his cancer exercise certification. 47 ABC spoke with Lehne and he says, “She was diagnosed with breast cancer and I wanted to find a way to help her .”
Martin’s diagnosis came in July of 2013 and Lehne became determined to help her in any way that he could. Lehne tells 47 ABC, “It was the only thing I could do for her, I can’t take her cancer for her, I can’t get rid of it for her, but post op and in remission I can help her get back to what she did before cancer.”
Martin underwent a mastectomy and 18 weeks of chemotherapy and soon after her surgery, she developed lymphedema in her arm, the common swelling can occur after such surgeries. Martin’s condition limited the mobility in her arm. That’s when Lehne opened up his gym 302 fitness in Milton that October and worked with her every week for one year.
Martin tells 47 ABC, “When I started working with him I could not go much more than this because this side was good but this side was like I ain’t doing that anymore.”
Before the cancer, Martin says she was a big walker. But a difficult time with treatment made it to hard to continue. Thanks to Lehne’s dedication, Martin, who is now cancer-free is back to her old self again. She tells 47 ABC, “It developed stamina strength brought back the range of motion developed the confidence in my own physical body so that I could do what I want to do.”
But Martin is not the only client that receives help. Lehne also offers classes at his gym for others that suffer specifically from lymphedema. Classes usually last about 2 hours and include everything from crunches to arm circles to hand squeezing and chest presses. Helping others is Lehne’s continuing reward. Lehne tells 47 ABC, “There’s nothing better than helping somebody return to the life they had.”
47 ABC also spoke with a physical therapist at Beebe Healthcare who works with lymphedema patients. In Martin’s case, during her surgery, the removal of lymph nodes from her body contributed to the development of the condition. If a blockage occurs in your lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system, it can prevent fluid from draining well and can lead to the swelling.
But physical therapist Camilla Carter explains that lymphedema does not discriminate, it can affect all ages and some people are even born with it. While there is no cure, Carter agrees with Lehne. Exercise can help with the symptoms.
Carter tells 47 ABC, “Exercise is very important because the lymphatic system which is made up of your nodes and your lymph vessels, they don’t have a pump. The lymphatic system depends on movement and that’s very important. Exercise is very important to keep that system functioning and moving so you’re moving so you can continue to help your body.”
Lehne is hoping to expand the help he brings clients with a new piece of equipment called a “lymphatic pump.” It’s a device patients could use to apply pressure to affected areas, essentially massaging it for them.
If you would like to check out Lehne’s Go Fund Me page, head to https://www.gofundme.com/cancer-exercise
