NCT06065423

Evaluation of Home Program and Telerehabilitation for the Treatment Process in Patients With Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (actual)
• Sponsor: Marmara University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

During the Covid-19 pandemic, rehabilitation services for all patients were affected, and a term that was previously in use but gained popularity during the pandemic entered our vocabulary: 'Telerehabilitation'. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the treatment process and adherence of patients undergoing telerehabilitation.

Detailed description

Our study is a randomized single-blind prospective study. Patients aged 18 to 75 years with stage 1-2 lymphedema associated with breast cancer and upper extremity lymphedema, who had undergone breast surgery at least 3 months prior, were included in the study. Group 1: Patients were given a brochure explaining the massage and exercises they should perform. They were periodically contacted by a physiotherapist and clinician to remind them of their tasks. Group 2: Patients underwent telerehabilitation exercises and massages three times a week guided by a physiotherapist and clinician, and on the remaining days, they continued their self-administered tasks. Patients were evaluated three times: before treatment, at weeks 5 and 8 after treatment. During each visit, patients' inter-limb volume difference, Quick DASH and Life Impact Scale scores, pain, tension, stiffness, and heaviness sensations were assessed.

Conditions

• Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema
• Telerehabilitation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Manuel Lymphatic Drainage(MLD), Exercises	MLD:It is a unique massage technique that uses specific hand movements to provide a gentle pumping effect on the skin. Massage movements follow the direction of lymph flow and produce rapid results. The aim of this method is to achieve maximum skin tightening effect with minimum pressure. Exercise, on the other hand, increases physical performance, improves body composition, and provides an increase in quality of life by providing acute and chronic reductions in fatigue. Both aerobic exercises and strengthening exercises have been found effective on physical performance. It shows that a mixed program consisting of components such as aerobics, strengthening, coordination and stretching can positively affect flexibility, pain and energy expenditure in breast cancer patients.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-09-01
• Primary completion: 2022-09-01
• Completion: 2023-06-01
• First posted: 2023-10-03
• Last updated: 2023-10-03

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)