OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of oral administration of zaltoprofen on shoulder range of motion (ROM) exercises for breast cancer patients after surgery. DESIGN: Single-blind, before-after trial. SETTING: Rehabilitation facility in a Japanese university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Forty breast cancer patients (age range 37 to 72 y) with limited shoulder movement after surgery. INTERVENTION: Single session of physiotherapy (PT) with or without oral administration of zaltoprofen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Active shoulder ROM in flexion, abduction, and external rotation, as well as subjective pain score during shoulder movements. RESULTS: Active shoulder movements after ingesting a zaltoprofen tablet significantly improved in flexion, abduction (p < 0.001), and external rotation (p < 0.005). PT treatment improved flexion and abduction ROM in both the zaltoprofen and control groups and led to significantly larger flexion and abduction movements in the zaltoprofen group than in the control group (p < 0.01). There were no differences in pain scores between groups, but 2 patients who did not receive zaltoprofen complained of increased pain just after ROM exercises. CONCLUSION: Zaltoprofen taken orally before ROM exercises for painful shoulder after breast cancer surgery may enhance the effects of PT.

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