title: Weight training is not harmful for women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Is weight-training exercise intervention harmful to women with or at risk of breast cancer-related lymphoedema?
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with or at risk of breast cancer-related lymphoedema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Progressive weight-training exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcomes were severity (volume difference) and incidence of arm lymphoedema. Secondary outcomes included muscle strength of the upper and lower limbs, quality of life and body mass index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven studies from eight trials involving 1091 women were included. Weight-training exercise of low to moderate intensity with relatively slow progression significantly improved the upper limb strength (SMD 0.93, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.12) and lower limb strength (SMD 0.75, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.04) without increasing the arm volume (SMD -0.09, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.05) or incidence of breast cancer-related lymphoedema (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.15). No significant effects were noted for body mass index (SMD -0.10, 95% -0.31 to 0.11). Some aspects of quality of life may improve with weight training. PARTICIPANTS in all trials used pressure garments and received supervision; no trials used high-intensity weight training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight training appears to be safe and beneficial in improving limb strength and physical components of quality of life in women with or at risk of lymphoedema. Pressure garments, supervision and limiting the intensity of the weight training may each be important, but this could not be confirmed with this review.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PROSPERO CRD42012002737.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Tata Memorial Hospital, India.
authors.forename: Vincent Singh
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Paramanandam
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D004487:Edema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D011788:Quality of Life; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Breast neoplasm; Exercise; Lymphoedema; Weight training