CONTEXT: Upper limb impairments are still common following surgery for breast cancer, indicating that current management is not adequate. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of prolonged stretching and resistance training in preventing upper limb impairments early after surgery for breast cancer. DESIGN: Randomised controlled design. SETTING: Hospital and home-based. PATIENTS: Women (n = 22) treated for breast cancer which included surgery to the axilla. INTERVENTIONS: After baseline measures at 4 weeks postsurgery, women were randomised to the exercise (n = 14) or control (n = 8) group. The exercise group performed a daily home program that lasted for 8 weeks. The daily program comprised prolonged stretches and 2 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions of moderate resistance exercises for shoulder flexors and abductors and external rotators. In addition, women attended weekly sessions at which time their exercises were checked and progressed, as required. Women in the control group (n = 8) received no additional interventions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Difference in arm circumference and self report of symptoms from quality of life questionnaire. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Fewer women in the exercise group had arm circumference differences >= 2 cm (lambda = 5.45, df = 1; p = 0.03), and overall reported fewer arm and breast symptoms. This preliminary data suggest that the intervention leads to better outcomes than usual care.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PDF locator
• publisher