Effectiveness of early physiotherapy to prevent lymphoedema after surgery for breast cancer: randomised, single blinded, clinical trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of early physiotherapy in reducing the risk of secondary lymphoedema after surgery for breast cancer.

Design

Randomised, single blinded, clinical trial.

Setting

University hospital in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.

Participants

120 women who had breast surgery involving dissection of axillary lymph nodes between May 2005 and June 2007.

Intervention

The early physiotherapy group was treated by a physiotherapist with a physiotherapy programme including manual lymph drainage, massage of scar tissue, and progressive active and action assisted shoulder exercises. This group also received an educational strategy. The control group received the educational strategy only.

Main outcome measure

Incidence of clinic

SUBMITTER: Torres Lacomba M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2806631 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature