Comparison of the effects of different functional exercise sequences on lymphedema in breast cancer: protocol for an exploratory randomised controlled cross-over trial

IntroductionBreast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a common postoperative complication of breast cancer. It develops in a chronic and vicious cycle. Once lymphedema occurs, it cannot be cured and bring serious physiological, psychological, social and economic burden to patients. Upper limb funct...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ open 2024-03, Vol.14 (3), p.e076127-e076127
Main Authors: Qiu, Lin, Wu, Jing, Huang, Yingying, Ye, Maodie, Song, Lifang, Huang, Haihong, Jin, Yongmei
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breast cancer
Breast tumours
Cancer surgery
Cancer therapies
Chemotherapy
Clinical medicine
Elbow
Exercise
Lymphatic system
Lymphedema
Metastasis
Nursing
Patients
Physical fitness
Radiation therapy
REHABILITATION MEDICINE
SPORTS MEDICINE
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Summary:IntroductionBreast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a common postoperative complication of breast cancer. It develops in a chronic and vicious cycle. Once lymphedema occurs, it cannot be cured and bring serious physiological, psychological, social and economic burden to patients. Upper limb functional exercises are an effective and convenient intervention for managing lymphedema. However, the optimal exercise sequence remains unclear. Therefore, we aim to compare the effects of exercise sequences under the guidance of commonly used exercise sequences and lymphatic flow theory.MethodsAn exploratory randomised controlled cross-over trial will be conducted. 32 patients with BCRL are randomly allocated into two groups (group A and group B). Group A patients will perform functional exercise from wrist joint to shoulder joint, and the exercise direction of group B is opposite to that of group A, that is, from shoulder joint to wrist joint end. Exercise time is once a day, each 20–30 min, for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of washout period, A and B groups of exchange exercise sequences (exercise frequency and duration unchanged). The primary outcome is upper limb circumference, and secondary outcomes are upper limb function and lymphedema symptoms.Ethics and disseminationThis study protocol is presented in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials guidelines. All participants will sign a written informed consent. The research ethics regional committee of Shanghai Seventh People’s Hospital has approved the study. Regardless of the outcome of this study, the results will be published in open-access journals to ensure public access.Trial registration numberChiCTR2200066463.
ISSN:2044-6055
2044-6055
DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076127