title: Ultrasonographic Evaluation of the Effects of Progressive Resistive Exercise in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the ultrasonic effects of progressive resistance exercise (PRE) for the treatment of patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).
  
  
  METHODS
  The 32 patients with diagnosed BCRL were randomly divided into two groups: the PRE group and the non-PRE group. After complex decongestive physiotherapy, PRE was performed by 0.5 kg dumbbell while wearing a compression stocking or a multilayer bandage to avoid aggravation of the lymphedema in the shoulder and arm. In the first week, the PRE group performed five repetitions of each exercise, twice a day, and the exercise were increased to five repetitions every week during 8 weeks. The thickness of muscle and subcutaneous tissue and circumferences of proximal and distal upper limbs were measured at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Examiners measured the circumference of upper limbs with tape measure, then the thickness of the muscle and subcutaneous tissue were measured by ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Muscle thickness of the upper limbs was less in the affected limb than that of the nonaffected limb at pretreatment. The thickness of subcutaneous tissue and circumferences of the arm was more decreased in the PRE group than that of the non-PRE group. The thickness of muscle of the arm was more significantly increased in the PRE group than that of the non-PRE group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the treatment of patients with BCRL, PRE with complex decongestive physiotherapy did not cause additional swelling, and it reduced arm circumference by decreased subcutaneous tissue thickness and increased muscle thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital , Chung-gu, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bok
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital , Chung-gu, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital , Chung-gu, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Pyoung-sik
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000072656:Breast Cancer Lymphedema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D034941:Upper Extremity