Effect of active resistive exercise on breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the differences between the effects of complex decongestive physiotherapy with and without active resistive exercise for the treatment of patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).


METHODS
Randomized control-group study.


METHODS
An outpatient rehabilitation clinic.


METHODS
Patients (N=40) with diagnosed BCRL.


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to either the active resistive exercise group or the nonactive resistive exercise group. In the active resistive exercise group, after complex decongestive physiotherapy, active resistive exercise was performed for 15min/d, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. The nonactive resistive exercise group performed only complex decongestive physiotherapy.


METHODS
The circumferences of the upper limbs (proximal, distal, and total) for the volume changes, and the Short Form-36 version 2 questionnaire for the quality of life (QOL) at pretreatment and 8 weeks posttreatment for each patient.


RESULTS
The volume of the proximal part of the arm was significantly more reduced in the active resistive exercise group than that of the nonactive resistive exercise group (P<.05). In the active resistive exercise group, there was significantly more improvement in physical health and general health, as compared with that of the nonactive resistive exercise group (P<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
For the treatment of patients with BCRL, active resistive exercise with complex decongestive physiotherapy did not cause additional swelling, and it significantly reduced proximal arm volume and helped improve QOL.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Do Sung
DS
Kim
Young-Joo
YJ
Sim
Ho Joong
HJ
Jeong
Ghi Chan
GC
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome