Lymphedema, Breast Cancer, Lymphedema of Upper Limb
Conditions
Brief summary
Complete decongestive therapy is proven to be effective in reducing lymphedema related symptoms such as swelling and pain. Breathing exercises, on the other hand, may also help managing lymphedema symptoms. Deep breathing creates a pressure change in the abdomen, which creates a vacuum effect in the thoracic cavity and helps to empty the lymphatic vessels. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether addition of diaphragmatic breathing exercises to physical exercise component of complete decongestive therapy provides further benefits on lymphedema volume, pain and quality of life in patients with breast cancer related lymphedema.
Interventions
Complete Decongestive Therapy will include manual lymphedema drainage (self) for 20 min everyday, skin care everyday, wearing compression garment or bandages everyday and upper-extremity exercises twice a day.
OTHERUpper extremity exercises combined with diaphragmatic breathing exercises
Upper-extremity exercises component of Complete Decongestive Therapy will be performed combined with diaphragmatic breathing exercises.
Sponsors
Bezmialem Vakif University
Istanbul Kent University
Izmir Bakircay University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
25 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosis of arm lymphedema after being treated for unilateral breast cancer with axillary node dissection * Completion of the treatments for the disease including chemotherapy and radiotherapy after breast surgery
Exclusion criteria
* Having recurrent cancer * Having cognitive disability * Having any concurrent diseases that may interfere with the measurement of lymphedema
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from baseline lymphedema volume at 6th week | 6 weeks | Arm volume will be measured using water displacement method. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from baseline upper extremity pain at 6th week | 6 weeks | Visual analog scale will be used for for quantifying pain. |
| Change from baseline quality of life at 6th week | 6 weeks | Quality of life will be evaluated using Lymphedema Functioning, Disability and Health Questionnaire for Upper Limb Lymphedema. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed