title: Retrospective study of the physical therapy modalities applied in head and neck l ymphedema treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Secondary lymphedema after head and neck cancer treatment is a serious complication and its management can be a challenge. The purpose of this study was to verify which physical therapy modalities were applied in the treatment of head and neck lymphedema through a retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was developed, based on the analysis of medical records of 32 patients treated in the physiotherapy outpatient department of the Brazilian Institute of Cancer Control (IBCC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The physiotherapy included manual lymphatic drainage, massage, exercises, patient education, and compression therapy with an average of 23.9 ± 14.8 sessions. Measurement results showed a significant reduction of face and neck lymphedema (p < .05) and pain (from 7.8 ± 2.2 to 3.6 ± 1.6; p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physical therapy modalities based on strategic manual lymphatic drainage, shoulder girdle massage, facial, tongue and neck exercises, compressive therapy at home, and patient education showed reduction of the lymphedema and pain, both of them secondary to head and neck cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Brazilian Institute of Cancer Control (IBCC), São Paulo, Brazil.|Physical Therapy Department, Sao Camilo University Centre, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pascale Mutti
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Tacani
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Sao Camilo University Centre, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Pereira
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Sao Camilo University Centre, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogério Eduardo
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tacani
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Paulista University (UNIP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Fernanda Perez
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Brazilian Institute of Cancer Control (IBCC), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montezello
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department, Brazilian Institute of Cancer Control (IBCC), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Carlos Guedes Sampaio
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Góes
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Health Science (FACIS), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marx
mesh_terms: D058128:Compression Bandages; D004322:Drainage; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005152:Facial Muscles; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012648:Self Care; D014059:Tongue; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
keywords: head and neck neoplasms; lymphedema; neck dissection; pain; physical therapy modalities