NCT05386628

The Effect of Myofascial Chain Release Techniques on Shoulder Joint Range of Motion in Breast Cancer Survivors

The Effect of Myofascial Chain Release Techniques on Shoulder Joint Range of Motion Following Mastectomy Surgery in Breast Cancer Survivors

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Istanbul Medeniyet University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 30 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

In breast cancer patients, limitation of shoulder joint movement occurs following mastectomy surgery. Studies have reported that damage to the fascia on the pectoralis major muscle during mastectomy surgery contributes to the development of the limitation. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of release techniques applied to the fascia on the pectoralis major muscle and the fascial chain on the incerasing of shoulder joint range of motion.

Detailed description

After mastectomy, complications such as decreased range of motion and muscle strength in the shoulder joint, development of pain and tenderness, and formation of lymphedema are frequently observed. In addition to causing a significant decrease in the patient's daily life quality, shoulder limitation also negatively affects the treatment process by preventing the joint position required for radiotherapy. For this reason, it is a priority to prevent the development of shoulder joint limitations that may occur following surgery and to open the developing limitation immediately. This study was born from the idea that the relaxation techniques to be applied to regain the mobility of the fascial structure, which has been damaged and whose mobility has decreased due to breast surgery, should be performed by covering the entire myofascial chain. In addition, the investigators aim to prevent adhesions that will limit the mobility of soft tissue by minimizing scar tissue formation with early drainage of postoperative edema. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of myofascial chain relaxation techniques and manual lymphatic drainage applied to improve soft tissue mobility in the prevention and elimination of shoulder limitations after breast cancer surgery. A total of 48 patients who agreed to participate in the study will be enrolled in the treatment program twice a week for 6 weeks. During the study, the same assessments will be applied to all patients and the cases will be evaluated 3 times (pre-treatment, post treatment, and one month post treatment). During the assessments, the physical evaluations of the patients on the shoulder region will be examined in detail using objective and subjective methods.

Conditions

• Breast Cancer Survivors

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	conventional physiotherapy	A basic physiotherapy program consisting of shoulder exercises will be applied to the participants. content of the physiotherapy program * Shoulder passive/active abduction, flexion, internal and external rotation exercises * Posture exercises * Neck stretching exercises * Pectoralis major stretching exercises * Shoulder capsule stretching exercises * Scapular Mobilization exercises
OTHER	Manual lymphatic drainage	manual lymph drainage is a manual technique that is applied to the lymphatic system with a pressure of 40-50 mmHg and increases the working speed of lymphatic nodules/collectors. Manual lymph drainage will be made to the anterior axillar-axillar, posterior axillar-axillar and axilla-inguinal anastomosis collectors and the arm region (up to the elbow) lymph collectors.
OTHER	Myofascial relasing	it will be done with the thumb or 3rd finger from the acu points of the superficial arm-anterior myofascial chain. 6-8 seconds with thumb to these points. pressure will be applied and vibration will be given clockwise.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-08-15
• Primary completion: 2025-06-15
• Completion: 2025-07-15
• First posted: 2022-05-23
• Last updated: 2024-07-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)