The effect of the combined use of complex decongestive therapy with electrotherapy modalities for the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized clinical trial

Background We evaluated the effects of combined complex decongestive therapy (CDT) with electrotherapy modalities (ultrasound and faradic currents) in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), investigating upper extremity circumference, volume, pain, and functional disability. Methods...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC musculoskeletal disorders 2022-09, Vol.23 (1), p.1-837, Article 837
Main Authors: Hemmati, Mahboobeh, Rojhani-Shirazi, Zahra, Zakeri, Zeinab Sadat, Akrami, Majid, Salehi Dehno, Nasrin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Athletic taping
Breast cancer
Cancer therapies
Care and treatment
Causes of
Chemotherapy
Clinical trials
Complex decongestive therapy
Complications and side effects
Compression therapy
Disability
Elbow
Electrotherapy
Intervention
Lymphedema
Musculoskeletal diseases
Pain
Patients
Quality of life
Radiation therapy
Skin care
Ultrasonic imaging
Ultrasound
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Summary:Background We evaluated the effects of combined complex decongestive therapy (CDT) with electrotherapy modalities (ultrasound and faradic currents) in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), investigating upper extremity circumference, volume, pain, and functional disability. Methods Thirty-nine patients with unilateral BCRL were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 13) as the following: The control group received CDT, the ultrasound group received CDT and therapeutic ultrasound, and the faradic group received CDT and faradic current. All the participants underwent treatment for 10 sessions. The outcomes including volume, circumference (measured at five points), pain intensity, and functional disability of the affected upper extremity were evaluated at baseline and after the treatment. Results Following the treatment, an improvement was noted in lymphedema volume, pain, and functional disability in all the three groups and there was a significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05). However, changes in limb circumference at the end of the treatment were not significantly different among the three groups in any sites (P > 0.05). Conclusion The combination of electrotherapy modalities, faradic current or ultrasound, with CDT can result in a greater reduction in lymphedema volume, pain, and functional disability in patients with BCRL. Trial registration IRCT, IRCT201310292391N14, registered 03/01/2016. Keywords: Breast cancer, Complex decongestive therapy, Disability, Electrotherapy, Lymphedema, Pain
ISSN:1471-2474
1471-2474
DOI:10.1186/s12891-022-05780-1