Shoulder proprioception changes in postmastectomy patients: an observational study

• Published in: Supportive care in cancer 2024-07, Vol.32 (7), p.444, Article 444
• Main Authors: Çalik, Meryem, Erdoğanoğlu, Yıldız, Çalik, Mahmut, Vural, Meltem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anatomy & physiology; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Lymphedema; Lymphedema - etiology; Mastectomy; Mastectomy - adverse effects; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Nursing; Nursing Research; Oncology; Pain Measurement - methods; Pain Medicine; Postoperative period; Proprioception - physiology; Range of motion; Range of Motion, Articular; Rehabilitation Medicine; Shoulder; Shoulder Joint - physiopathology
• ISSN: 0941-4355; 1433-7339; 1433-7339
• DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08651-8

Purpose Breast cancer surgery can cause changes in the anatomical structure of the shoulder and in shoulder mobility, leading to the increased possibility of long-term arm morbidity such as lymphedema. This study aims to evaluate the active shoulder joint position sense (AJPS) with and without lymphedema in postmastectomy patients. Methods A total of 66 women, including 22 patients with lymphedema, 22 patients without lymphedema, and 22 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study. Pain severity was evaluated with the Numeric Pain Scale and edema severity was measured with circumferentially at 10 cm intervals. The normal range of motion of the shoulder joint was evaluated with the universal goniometer and the AJPS was assessed by active position repetition testing at 55°, 90°, and 125° shoulder flexion targets using the smartphone application “Clinometer.” Results AJPS at 55°, 90°, and 125° shoulder flexion target angles with and without lymphedema were different in all target angles compared to healthy controls ( p