Self-administered versus lymphedema therapist-administered complex decongestive therapy protocol in breast cancer-related lymphedema: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial with three-month follow-up.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The aim of this study was to demonstrate that a self-administered complex decongestive therapy (CDT) protocol is not inferior to certified lymphedema therapist (CLT)-administered CDT in the management of lymphedema and health-related outcomes in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).

Methods

Fifty patients with BCRL were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: (1) a CLT-administered CDT group (n = 25) or a self-administered CDT group (n = 25). CDT was a multimodal approach in two experimental conditions consisting of patient education, manual lymph drainage, multi-layer bandaging, therapeutic exercises and skin/nail care. Lymphedema severity was assessed using circumference measurement, and BCRL-related symptoms were assessed using a numerical r

SUBMITTER: Gultekin SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12086114 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature