This prospective prehabilitation trial evaluated the effectiveness of an individualized exercise program initiated before breast cancer surgery and maintained for 12 months. The intervention aimed to promote functional recovery and improve patient-reported outcomes.
Women scheduled for breast surgery due to breast cancer were enrolled in an individualized prehabilitation program that began in the preoperative period and continued for 12 months. The exercise program included range-of-motion, strengthening, and postural correction exercises delivered through supervised and home-based sessions. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline and at 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th months. Functional outcomes, shoulder range of motion, pain intensity, lymphedema development, and patient-reported quality of life were assessed.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
The exercise program was delivered to patients through both visual and written materials, accompanied by face-to-face training sessions conducted by a physiotherapist. A home-based program was designed separately for the pre-surgery phase, postoperative day 1, day 3, day 7, and the maintenance period. The exercise template included postural correction, breathing, aerobic, stretching, and resistive strengthening exercises targeting muscles in adjacent to the shoulder joint and mobilization of scapulothoracic complex via stretching and strengthening exercises of periscapular muscles.
Balikesir Ataturk City Hospital Affiliated with University of Health Sciences
Balıkesir, Turkey (Türkiye)
Shoulder Range of Motion
Measurement of Flexion, Abduction, Internal and External Rotation of Shoulder with goniometer
Time frame: baseline, 1st-3rd-6th-12th month
Pain Intensity
measure of pain with VAS (Visual analog scale)
Time frame: baseline, 1st-3rd-6th-12th month
Functional Outcomes
measure of upper extremity functions with UEFI-15 (Upper extremity functional index) instrument
Time frame: baseline and 12th month
fatigue
measure of fatigue condition with FSS (Fatigue severity scale) instrument
Time frame: baseline and 12th month
Quality of Life impairment
measure of Quality of Life with EORTC-QLQ-C30 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire) instrument
Time frame: baseline and 12th month
lymphedema
Limb volume difference \>10% or clinical signs of edema
Time frame: baseline and 12th month
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