Background: The incidence of lower limb lymphedema (LLL) after gynecological cancer surgery with lymphadenectomy is about 10-46%. Lower limb lymphedema results in limited physical mobility and reduced patients' quality of life. A hospital -based complete decongestive therapy has been recommended to patients with LLL, including exercise, manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, and skin care. However, the inconvenience of the hospital-based rehabilitation program limit the availability for those patients LLL. Home-based exercise program may be feasible instead of the hospital-based program. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of the home-based lower extremity exercise on reliving LLL and improving quality of life in patients with LLL. Research Purposes: The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based exercise program for relieving lower extremity lymphedema, including circumference measurement, bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), lower limb muscle strength, quality of life related to cancer \& LLL, and fatigue. Methods: This study is a two- year project with a single-blind randomized clinical trial. The participants are women with gynecological cancer surgery, aged of 20-75 years and currently have lower extremity lymphedema. A sample of 76 participants will be stratified randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group is to carry out a home-based anti-resistance exercise with elastic band other than a routine care of complex decongestive physiotherapy; while the control group is to carry out a routine care of complex decongestive physiotherapy. The home-based program is a 12-week exercise program. Data collections will be conducted before exercise (Baseline), during exercise (second months), and exercise program after completion. Measures includes (1) Physical examination: limb leg circumference measurement, bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), lower limb muscle strength, (2) Questionnaires: Functional status of lymphatic edema of LLL, fatigue, and EORTC-QLQ-C30. Anticipated Outcomes: Findings from this study could provide a reference of home-based exercise guideline and be integrated into the care of activities for women following gynecological surgery with LLL.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
100
It is a 12-week, middle-level, home-based, anti-resistance exercise. Exercise was recommended 1-2 times per day for 15-20 mins per session.
The leaflet of the lymphedema self-care, including skin care and manual lymphatic drainage
Limb circumference change from baseline to 3 months
Measuring by measuring tape
Time frame: from baseline to 3 months
Edema change from baseline to 3 months
Measuring by Bioelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy (BIS)- InBody S10
Time frame: from baseline to 3 months
Lower limb muscle strength change from baseline to 3 months
Measuring by microFET 2
Time frame: from baseline to 3 months
Functional status of lymphatic edema of LLL change from baseline to 3 months
Measuring by Lymphoedema Functioning, Disability and Health Questionnaire for Lower Limb Lymphoedema (Lymph-ICF-LL). It is a 28-item, 0(no problem) to 10(very severe) questionnaire.
Time frame: from baseline to 3 months
Fatigue change from baseline to 3 months
Measuring by Chinese Lee Fatigue Scale Short Form (C-LESSF). It is a 7-item, from 0(no fatigue) to 10(very fatigue) questionnaire.
Time frame: from baseline to 3 months
EORTC-QLQ-C30
Measuring by EORTC QLQ C30. It is a 30-item, from 0(no problem) to 10(very severe) questionnaire.
Time frame: from baseline to 3 months
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