title: Clinical effectiveness of complex decongestive physiotherapy for malignant lymphedema: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDPT) on malignant lymphedema patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n=22) with malignant lymphedema of the upper or the lower limb were assigned to this study. CDPT without manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) was used five times per week for two weeks. The main outcome measurements included measurement of the circumference of the limb (proximal, distal, and total) to assess volume changes. We also employed the visual analog scale (VAS) to evaluate pain, and the short form-36 version 2 questionnaire (SF-36) to assess quality of life (QOL). All items were assessed pre and post-treatment for each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference in the volume change of the upper limbs (3.7%, p=0.001) and the lower limbs (10.9%, p=0.001). A 1.5 point reduction on the ten-point VAS was noted after CDPT. The scores on the physical and the mental components of the SF-36 showed statistical improvement after treatment (p=0.006, p=0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that all components of the CDPT program except MLD are helpful in treating malignant lymphedema in terms of pain reduction and reduction of the volume of the affected upper or lower limb. This treatment regimen also has positive effects on QOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ho Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Ghi Chan
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Sim
keywords: Cancer; Lymphedema; Pain; Physiotherapy; Quality of life