Is the Absence of Manual Lymphatic Drainage-Based Treatment in Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Harmful? A Randomized Crossover Study
(1) Background: Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), included within the complex decongestive therapy, as a therapy for the treatment of lymphedema has raised controversy about its benefits for lymphedema after breast cancer. The aim of this research is to test the effects of MLD on lymphedema after bre...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/2/402 |
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| author | Iria Da Cuña-Carrera Mercedes Soto-González Rocío Abalo-Núñez Eva M. Lantarón-Caeiro |
| author_facet | Iria Da Cuña-Carrera Mercedes Soto-González Rocío Abalo-Núñez Eva M. Lantarón-Caeiro |
| author_sort | Iria Da Cuña-Carrera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), included within the complex decongestive therapy, as a therapy for the treatment of lymphedema has raised controversy about its benefits for lymphedema after breast cancer. The aim of this research is to test the effects of MLD on lymphedema after breast cancer during the treatment maintenance phase. (2) Methods: A randomized, single-blinded, controlled crossover trial was conducted to analyze the effects of a manual lymphatic drainage intervention compared to a control group without MLD intervention for the treatment of lymphedema. Arm volume measured by circumference measurement, subcutaneous tissue thickness measured by ultrasound, and the sensation of pain, heaviness, and swelling were evaluated as outcome measures. (3) Results: For the control group, an increase in volume was found in some of the circumference and subcutaneous tissue thickness measurements, in addition to a worsening of arm pain, swelling and heaviness. (4) Conclusion: The absence of treatment based on MLD in lymphedema after breast cancer worsens volume measurements, as well as arm heaviness. Therefore, it would be advisable to carry out this type of therapy as part of the maintenance treatment for lymphedema in breast cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:51:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02b953c1f7cf4d11bc722e91dd82382b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:51:30Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-02b953c1f7cf4d11bc722e91dd82382b2024-01-29T14:01:27ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832024-01-0113240210.3390/jcm13020402Is the Absence of Manual Lymphatic Drainage-Based Treatment in Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Harmful? A Randomized Crossover StudyIria Da Cuña-Carrera0Mercedes Soto-González1Rocío Abalo-Núñez2Eva M. Lantarón-Caeiro3Clinic Physiotherapy Group, Galicia South Health Research Institute, Servicio Galego de Saúde, 36312 Vigo, SpainClinic Physiotherapy Group, Galicia South Health Research Institute, Servicio Galego de Saúde, 36312 Vigo, SpainClinic Physiotherapy Group, Galicia South Health Research Institute, Servicio Galego de Saúde, 36312 Vigo, SpainClinic Physiotherapy Group, Galicia South Health Research Institute, Servicio Galego de Saúde, 36312 Vigo, Spain(1) Background: Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), included within the complex decongestive therapy, as a therapy for the treatment of lymphedema has raised controversy about its benefits for lymphedema after breast cancer. The aim of this research is to test the effects of MLD on lymphedema after breast cancer during the treatment maintenance phase. (2) Methods: A randomized, single-blinded, controlled crossover trial was conducted to analyze the effects of a manual lymphatic drainage intervention compared to a control group without MLD intervention for the treatment of lymphedema. Arm volume measured by circumference measurement, subcutaneous tissue thickness measured by ultrasound, and the sensation of pain, heaviness, and swelling were evaluated as outcome measures. (3) Results: For the control group, an increase in volume was found in some of the circumference and subcutaneous tissue thickness measurements, in addition to a worsening of arm pain, swelling and heaviness. (4) Conclusion: The absence of treatment based on MLD in lymphedema after breast cancer worsens volume measurements, as well as arm heaviness. Therefore, it would be advisable to carry out this type of therapy as part of the maintenance treatment for lymphedema in breast cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/2/402manual lymphatic drainagebreast cancerlymphedema |
| spellingShingle | Iria Da Cuña-Carrera Mercedes Soto-González Rocío Abalo-Núñez Eva M. Lantarón-Caeiro Is the Absence of Manual Lymphatic Drainage-Based Treatment in Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Harmful? A Randomized Crossover Study Journal of Clinical Medicine manual lymphatic drainage breast cancer lymphedema |
| title | Is the Absence of Manual Lymphatic Drainage-Based Treatment in Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Harmful? A Randomized Crossover Study |
| title_full | Is the Absence of Manual Lymphatic Drainage-Based Treatment in Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Harmful? A Randomized Crossover Study |
| title_fullStr | Is the Absence of Manual Lymphatic Drainage-Based Treatment in Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Harmful? A Randomized Crossover Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is the Absence of Manual Lymphatic Drainage-Based Treatment in Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Harmful? A Randomized Crossover Study |
| title_short | Is the Absence of Manual Lymphatic Drainage-Based Treatment in Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Harmful? A Randomized Crossover Study |
| title_sort | is the absence of manual lymphatic drainage based treatment in lymphedema after breast cancer harmful a randomized crossover study |
| topic | manual lymphatic drainage breast cancer lymphedema |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/2/402 |
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