Synergic effect of compression therapy and controlled active exercises using a facilitating device in the treatment of arm lymphedema

• Published in: International journal of medical sciences Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 280 - 284
• Main Authors: Godoy, Maria de Fátima Guerreiro, Pereira, Maria Regina, Oliani, Antonio Helio, de Godoy, Jose Maria Pereira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Ivyspring International Publisher 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Arm; Breast Neoplasms - rehabilitation; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Humans; Lymphedema - etiology; Lymphedema - therapy; Middle Aged; Research Paper; Treatment Outcome; equipment; exercising; lymphedema
• ISSN: 1449-1907; 1449-1907
• DOI: 10.7150/ijms.3272

A randomized controlled trial was performed to evaluate the effect of the combination of compression therapy with active exercising using a facilitating apparatus on arm lymphedema. Twenty women with a mean age of 63.3 years were evaluated; all had lymphedema resulting from breast cancer treatment. The inclusion criterion was a difference of 200 mL in size between arms. The apparatus used, called 'pulley system', is a vertical iron wheel fixed on a support at a distance of 10 cm from the patient's body. Participants were submitted to two series of active exercises using this facilitating device, one series using a compression sleeve and the other without. Each series consisted of four 12-minute sessions of exercises separated by 3-minute rest intervals. Volumetry was performed before and after each series of exercises. The paired t-test was utilized for statistical analysis (p-value < 0.05). A significant mean reduction (p-value < 0.007) and non-significant mean increase (p-value < 0.2) in volumes were observed during exercising with and without compression, respectively. Controlled active exercising utilizing a facilitating apparatus while wearing a compression sleeve reduces the size of lymphedematous arms.