Objective: To determine the effectiveness of physical therapy on the axillary web syndrome in improving pain, reducing swelling and increasing mobility of the shoulder. Design: randomized single-blinded controlled trial. Follow-up: five physical therapy assessments: pre-intervention; post-intervention, 3 months post-intervention, 6 months post-intervention. Participants: Eighty consecutive women diagnosed with axillary web syndrome after undergoing unilateral breast cancer surgery with ALND or SLND at the Prıíncipe de Asturias Hospital in Alcalà de Henares, Madrid (Spain). Randomization: women will be randomly assigned to two groups by EpiData 3.1 software. Interventions: Physical Therapy group: Physical Therapy composed of manual lymph-drainage technique in axilla, and proximal ipsilateral arm, specific thumb manual lymph-drainage on the taut cords to make them gradually more flexible, in conjunction with progressive active and action-assisted arm exercises; Control group: standard progressive active and action-assisted arm exercises. 9 physical therapy sessions.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
90
Physical therapy protocol includes manual lymph-drainage technique in axilla, and proximal ipsilateral arm, specific thumb manual lymph-drainage on the taut cords to make them gradually more flexible, in conjunction with progressive active and action-assisted arm exercises "stretching" cords, and patient education.
Control protocol includes standard progressive active and action-assisted arm exercises \& patient education.
Physiotherapy in women´s health research group. University of Alcalà
Alcalà de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Change from baseline in Subjective pain at one month (post-intervention); and 3 and 6 months post-intervention
Visual Analogue Scale
Time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline); Post-intervention (one month from baseline); and 3 and 6 months post-intervention
Change from baseline in Range of shoulder motion at one month (post-intervention); and 3 and 6 months post-intervention
Inclinometer
Time frame: Pre-intervention (baseline); Post-intervention (one month from baseline); and 3 and 6 months post-intervention
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