Exercise for women with lymphoedema

A randomised trial to evaluate the effect of resistance training on volume of lymphoedema for women with lymphoedema secondary to breast cancer.

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12606000435583

Enrollment

Registered

2006-10-11

Start date

2005-06-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

This is a study on the benefits of exercise for women with lymphoedema. Who is it for? You can join this study if you have arm swelling following breast cancer treatment, whether this is induced by surgery or radiotherapy. Trial details Participants will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will attend a 60 minutes exercise program three times a week for 10 weeks, aimed at improving upper limb strength The other group will asked to attend for a 30 minute assessment of their lymphoedema each week for 10 weeks (the control group will not have an exercise program). Both groups will have their lymphoedema assessed each week for 10 weeks. The trial looks at any change in upper limb composition measured using a technique known as multifrequency bio-impedance (which is a way to measure tissue density, particularly the amount of fluid in the arm) and arm circumference at 10 weeks and 6 months following completion of treatment. There is no standard intervention recommended for women with arm swelling. The trial will determine the effects of vigorous supervised resistance training on arm lymphoedema. The trial will document whether women with lymphoedema can use their affected arm in vigorous exercise.

Interventions

Exercise group: women will attend 3 times a week for 10 weeks to be instructed in a resistance training program aimed at improving upper limb muscle strength.Each session will last approximately 60 minutes.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Educational / counselling / training

Masking

Blinded (masking used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Have had unilateral surgery for breast cancer* have completed treatment for breast cancer at least 6 months ago* have unilateral upper limb lymphoedema* have had lymphoedema present for at least 6 months* finished treatment for lymphoedema at least 1 month ago* are willing to attend training and follow-up sessions* are willing to be randomised into either treatment group.* are able to understand written and spoken english.

Exclusion criteria

Have metastatic cancer* have a pacemaker or other inbuilt stimulator* are pregnant* have a previous fracture, undergpne surgery in the upper limbs or suffer any neurological deficit or other injury to either upper limb that may interfere with test procedures.

Outcome results