title: Resistance exercise and secondary lymphedema in breast cancer survivors-a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present review was to determine effects of strength exercise on secondary lymphedema in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research was conducted by using the databases PubMed/Medline and Embase. Randomized controlled trials published from January 1966 to May 2015 investigating the effects of resistance exercise on breast cancer patients with or at risk of secondary lymphedema in accordance with the American College of Sports Medicine exercise guidelines for cancer survivors were included in the present study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine original articles with a total of 957 patients met the inclusion criteria. None of the included articles showed adverse effects of a resistance exercise intervention on lymphedema status. In all included studies, resistance exercise intensity was described as moderate to high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strength exercise seems not to have negative effects on lymphedema status or might not increase risk of development of lymphedema in breast cancer patients. Further research is needed in order to investigate the effects of resistance exercise for patients suffering from lymphedema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Vienna, 18-20, Währinger Gürtel, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keilani
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Vienna, 18-20, Währinger Gürtel, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasenoehrl
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Vienna, 18-20, Währinger Gürtel, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neubauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Vienna, 18-20, Währinger Gürtel, Austria. richard.crevenna@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crevenna
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017741:Survivors
keywords: Breast cancer; Medical training therapy; Resistance exercise; Secondary lymphedema; Strength