The Effect of Arm Exercises on Arm Oedema After Breast Cancer Surgery

Gulseren MARAS

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Cancer Lymphedema; Breast Cancer Female

Treatments: Other: exercise and training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05303675

710/2021

Details and patient eligibility

About

In order to prevent lymphedema after breast surgery, patients are advised to know the risk factors for lymphedema and to avoid situations that may cause lymphedema, to perform active and passive arm exercises, to evaluate the affected area for lymphedema, to perform self-care and this should be under the self-management of the patients. Investigators think that this study will have a positive effect on the literature since there are no studies on risk scoring, the combined use of training and exercises to strengthen self-care skills in preventing the development of breast cancer-associated lymphedema. From this point of view, the study was planned as a randomized controlled experiment to examine the effects of preoperative lymphedema scoring and postoperative progressive upper extremity exercises on upper extremity function and self-care in women with breast cancer.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Female gender,
• Between 18-65 years old
• BMI ≤30 kg/m2
• Axillary lymph node dissection (removal of at least 2 lymph nodes),
• No history of cancer other than breast cancer,
• Does not have any chronic disease (such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) that prevents exercise
• No previous diagnosis of lymphedema,
• Not pregnant or breastfeeding during the study,
• Individuals who agree to participate in the study will be included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Total (simple) mastectomy,
• History of bilateral lymph node dissection,
• Lymphedema (difference >2 cm with an intact extremity)
• Individuals who do not agree to participate in the study will not be included in the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

Preoperative: An introductory information form will be filled out, and a lymphedema self-care and exercise booklet will be given. Postoperative: Patients will be applied Progressive Upper Limb Exercises and Muscle Relaxation Training (PULE-MRT), lymphedema upper extremity circumference measurement, and symptom alert model until discharge, and Muscle Relaxation Training will continue until discharge. Post-Discharge: They will be asked to record a diary at home. PULE-MRT will continue until day 15. The 15-day exercise program will continue for up to 3 months. Follow-up will be made by telephone according to the symptom alert model at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months, and at the end of the 3rd month, the breast cancer-related lymphedema self-care scale will be administered.

Treatment:

Other: exercise and training

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Preoperative: Introductory information form will be filled out. Postoperative: Standard nursing care will be applied to the patients, lymphedema upper extremity circumference measurement and symptom alert model follow-up form will be applied. Post-Discharge: Lymphedema upper extremity circumference measurement will be explained to the patients before discharge, and they will be asked to record the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months at home. Patients will be followed up by telephone according to the symptom alert model at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months, and at the end of the 3rd month, the breast cancer-related lymphedema self-care scale will be administered.