Axillary web syndrome(AWS) is common complication of breast cancer surgery. Overall, AWS affects more than a half of the patient receiving axillary lymph node dissection. The symptoms of AWS include pain, limited function and range of motion. Geater risk of secondary lymphedema was found if the patient developed AWS during the first postoperative year. ESWT was used for treating myofascial pain for decades. Low energy ESWT combined with complex decongestive therapy had a benefit on shoulder joint ROM and skin thickness improvement in patients with BCRL in recently studies. Investigators wonder if ESWT can also be applied to patients with axillary web syndrome for increasing ROM and relieving pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of low energy ESWT in patients with axillary web syndrome.
Although the anticipated enrollment was 30 participants, the study was completed with 20 participants due to early attainment of statistical significance and recruitment feasibility.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Therapeutic sessions: 4(once a week, for 4 weeks) Total dosage: 2500 shoots over axillary cord lesion (1000 over most fibrotic area, 500 over upper arm, 500 over forearm, 500 over other area) Energy: 0.056-0.065mJ/mm2
Taichung Veterans General Hospital
Taichung, Taichung City, Taiwan
Shoulder range of motion
Flexion, extension, external rotation, internal rotation, abduction over upper limbs
Time frame: 2 months
Pain score
Visual Analogue Scale (0-10 points, higher score represented higher degree of pain)
Time frame: 2 months
Muscle strength
Muscle strength of upper limb measured by ergometer
Time frame: 2 months
Upper limb functional score
quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score(qDASH) (0-100 points, higher score indicated higher level of upper limb impairment)
Time frame: 2 months
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