Post mastectomy exercises: Outcome on shoulder pain among women undergone mastectomy surgery

The study aimed at assessing the effect of post mastectomy exercises on shoulder pain among mastectomy women. Methods: A quantitative research approach with one group pretest posttest research design was adopted. The sample consisted of 40 mastectomy surgery women selected by purposive sampling. The tools used were Universal pain assessment scale and prepared to assess the practice by self-reported checklist which was administered by using interview technique. Post mastectomy exercises such as wall climbing, rod or broomstick lifting, rope turning and pulley tugging were taught for 10 minutes on the second post operative day and instructed to the patient perform daily morning and evening for 30 minutes for four weeks. After forth week during follow-up post test was done with the same tool and practice of exercises was reported with self-report checklist. Results: The effect was computed by paired “t” test (26.334) and found to be effective. There was no association between pre-test pain level score with demographic variables. Conclusion: Hence it is concluded that the post mastectomy exercises programme was effective in reducing mild to moderate shoulder pain without analgesics.