BACKGROUND: Kinesiology taping promotes the lymph circulation, and has certain effect in patients with lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. Manual lymph drainage is a technique of sequential massage of the lymph nodes to promote the free flow of retained lymph fluid, thereby reducing swelling. OBJECTIVE: To observe and analyze the clinical effects of kinesiology taping combined with manual lymph drainage in patients with lymphedema of the upper limbs after breast cancer surgery. METHODS: Seventy patients with breast cancer related lymphedema of the upper limbs were randomly divided into two groups. The control group was treated with routine therapy, and the combined group was treated with kinesiology taping and manual lymph drainage based on routine therapy for 4 weeks. Degree of lymphedema, lymph flow, Disability of Shoulder and Hand Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to analyze the differences in each group before and after treatment as well as between the two groups after 4 weeks of treatment. The study protocol was implemented in line with the relevant ethical requirements of the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University (approval No. 201712), and all patients were informed of the study procedures and signed an informed consent. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 4 weeks of treatment, the degree of lymphedema, lymph flow, and the scores on the Disability of Shoulder and Hand and WHOQOL-BREF in the two groups were significantly improved (p < 0.05), and all the parameters were better in the combined group than the control group (p < 0.05). To conclude, the combination of kinesiology taping and manual lymph drainage has a positive clinical effect on breast cancer related lymphedema.

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