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Water-Based Exercise for Patients with Chronic Arm Lymphedema: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Johansson, Karin LU ; Hayes, Sandi ; Speck, Rebecca M and Schmitz, Kathryn H (2013) In American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 92(4). p.312-319
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effect of a water-based exercise program on lymphedema status and shoulder range of motion among women with breast cancer-related lymphedema. DESIGN: This was a single-blinded, randomized controlled pilot trial. Twenty-nine eligible breast cancer survivors (median, 10 yrs after surgery) with arm lymphedema (median, 21% interlimb difference) were included and randomized into the intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 14) group. Twenty-five participants completed the study. The intervention was at least twice-weekly water-based exercise for 8 wks, initially supervised but performed independently during the study period. Outcomes of interest were feasibility as measured by... (More)
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effect of a water-based exercise program on lymphedema status and shoulder range of motion among women with breast cancer-related lymphedema. DESIGN: This was a single-blinded, randomized controlled pilot trial. Twenty-nine eligible breast cancer survivors (median, 10 yrs after surgery) with arm lymphedema (median, 21% interlimb difference) were included and randomized into the intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 14) group. Twenty-five participants completed the study. The intervention was at least twice-weekly water-based exercise for 8 wks, initially supervised but performed independently during the study period. Outcomes of interest were feasibility as measured by retention and adherence; lymphedema status as measured by optoelectronic perometry, bioimpedance spectroscopy, and tissue dielectric constant; and shoulder range of motion as measured by goniometer. RESULTS: Four participants were not measured at postintervention and were not included in the analysis (retention). Four participants in the intervention group did not perform the minimum water-based exercise criteria set (adherence). No effect was found on lymphedema status. Compared with the control group, median range of motion change for flexion was 6 (1-10) degrees (P < 0.001) and 6 (0-15.5) degrees (P = 0.07) for external rotation.A clinically relevant increase in the intervention group was found for 36% in flexion (P ≤ 0.05) and 57% in external rotation (P ≤ 0.05) compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that water-based exercise is feasible for breast cancer survivors with arm lymphedema and that shoulder range of motion can be improved years after cancer treatment has been completed. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
volume
92
issue
4
pages
312 - 319
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • wos:000316411800004
  • pmid:23370582
  • scopus:84877928393
  • pmid:23370582
ISSN
1537-7385
DOI
10.1097/PHM.0b013e318278b0e8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a16c25ce-6b79-4f43-a76c-ae4041f66e0e (old id 3560304)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23370582?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:16:20
date last changed
2022-04-20 18:18:53
@article{a16c25ce-6b79-4f43-a76c-ae4041f66e0e,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effect of a water-based exercise program on lymphedema status and shoulder range of motion among women with breast cancer-related lymphedema. DESIGN: This was a single-blinded, randomized controlled pilot trial. Twenty-nine eligible breast cancer survivors (median, 10 yrs after surgery) with arm lymphedema (median, 21% interlimb difference) were included and randomized into the intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 14) group. Twenty-five participants completed the study. The intervention was at least twice-weekly water-based exercise for 8 wks, initially supervised but performed independently during the study period. Outcomes of interest were feasibility as measured by retention and adherence; lymphedema status as measured by optoelectronic perometry, bioimpedance spectroscopy, and tissue dielectric constant; and shoulder range of motion as measured by goniometer. RESULTS: Four participants were not measured at postintervention and were not included in the analysis (retention). Four participants in the intervention group did not perform the minimum water-based exercise criteria set (adherence). No effect was found on lymphedema status. Compared with the control group, median range of motion change for flexion was 6 (1-10) degrees (P &lt; 0.001) and 6 (0-15.5) degrees (P = 0.07) for external rotation.A clinically relevant increase in the intervention group was found for 36% in flexion (P ≤ 0.05) and 57% in external rotation (P ≤ 0.05) compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that water-based exercise is feasible for breast cancer survivors with arm lymphedema and that shoulder range of motion can be improved years after cancer treatment has been completed.}},
  author       = {{Johansson, Karin and Hayes, Sandi and Speck, Rebecca M and Schmitz, Kathryn H}},
  issn         = {{1537-7385}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{312--319}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation}},
  title        = {{Water-Based Exercise for Patients with Chronic Arm Lymphedema: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0b013e318278b0e8}},
  doi          = {{10.1097/PHM.0b013e318278b0e8}},
  volume       = {{92}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}