Effectiveness of modified Complex Physical Therapy for lymphoedema treatment.
A conservative management technique for lymphoedema, known as Complex Physical Therapy, which comprises massage, compression bandaging, skin care and exercises, appears to be effective in the management of this chronic condition. However, it is extremely time consuming, requiring daily treatments of more than one hour in duration for a period of four weeks. A modified program, which combines all the elements of the treatment technique, was designed. This program requires treatments only twice weekly and uses pressure garments instead of compression bandaging. In this clinical trial on 25 patients, the results of the two treatment programs were found to be similar.
Matthews
Kay
K
Physiotherapy Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.
Smith
Jennifer
J