Kinesio taping versus compression garments for treating breast cancer-related lymphedema: a randomized, cross-over, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of Kinesio taping compared to compression garments during maintenance phase of complex decongestive therapy for breast cancer-related lymphedema.

DESIGN

Randomized, cross-over, controlled trial.

SETTING

Outpatient tertiary-level hospital rehabilitation setting.

SUBJECTS

Randomized sample of 30 women with breast cancer-related lymphedema.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants received two interventions, Kinesio taping and compression garment, both lasting four weeks, whose order was randomized by blocks. A four-week washout period was established prior to the interventions and between them.

MEASUREMENTS

The main outcome was the lymphedema Relative Volume Change. Secondary outcomes were range of motion of arm joints, self-perception of comfort, and lymphedema-related symptoms (pain, tightness, heaviness, and hardness).

RESULTS

The decrease in the Relative Volume Change was greater in the Kinesio taping intervention (-5.7%, SD = 2.0) compared to that observed using compression garments (-3.4%, SD = 2.9) ( < 0.001). The range of motion of five upper-limb movements increased after applying taping (between 5.8° and 16.7°) ( < 0.05), but not after compression ( > 0.05). In addition, taping was perceived as more comfortable by patients (between 2.4 and 3 points better than compression in four questions with a 5-point scale ( < 0.001)) and further reduced lymphedema-related symptoms compared to compression (between 0.96 and 1.40 points better in four questions with a 6-point scale ( < 0.05)).

CONCLUSION

Kinesio taping was more effective than compression garments for reducing the lymphedema volume, with less severe lymphedema-related symptoms, better improvement of upper-limb mobility, and more comfort.