1B.P. Th., NDMVP College of Physiotherapy, Nashik
2Assistant Professor, NDMVP College of Physiotherapy, Nashik
*Corresponding author: Revati Rajaram Thakur B.P, Th, NDMVP College of Physiotherapy, Nashik, Address-F-58 A, Railway quarters, Railway lines, Solapur, 413001
Online published on 30 June, 2016.
Breast cancer-related lymphedema is one of the main complications and most dreaded sequelae of breast cancer and its therapies Disruption of the lymphatic circulation through breast carcinoma associated axillary lymph node dissection, with or without radiation therapy, reportedly is the most common cause of lymphedema in developed countries.
To determine the effectiveness of early physiotherapy in reducing the risk of secondary lymphedema after surgery for breast cancer.
It was a randomized control trial conducted on 20 subjects divided in 2 groups, one group was control group and other was experimental group. 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.
By using unpaired t test we have found mean value of difference for difference between QLQ score of group A & group B was 9.80 and 3.60 respectively (p=0.0001) and mean value of difference for difference between volumetric measurement of group A & group B is 4.00 and 39.50. Thus early Physiotherapy is more effective than education strategy in preventing lymphedema post mastectomy breast cancer patients.
Early physiotherapy could be an effective intervention in the prevention of secondary lymphedema in women after surgery for breast cancer involving dissection of axillary lymph nodes.
breast cancer, lymphedema, manual lymph drainage
