Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ege University Medical School, İzmir, Turkey,
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ege University Medical School, İzmir, Turkey.
Oncol Res Treat. 2020;43(11):584-591. doi: 10.1159/000509672. Epub 2020 Sep 15.
To determine whether complete decongestive therapy (CDT) used in breast cancer-related lymphedema affects muscle strength in the affected arm while assessing the efficacy of the therapy itself.
Seventy-four patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema were included in this study. The demographic and clinical history characteristics of the patients were taken. The patients were then evaluated with measurements of extremity volumes and handgrip strengths using a hand dynamometer before and after the CDT. Data were then assessed using relevant statistical methods.
The mean CDT duration was 17.5 ± 8.93 days for the patients. Therapy resulted in significant improvement in the affected arm (p < 0.01). The difference between the arm with lymphedema and the other side was statistically significant, and this difference remained after the therapy (p < 0.01). The change in handgrip strength in the side with lymphedema was not found to be statistically significant after therapy (p > 0.05). Handgrip strength differences and volume differences before and after the treatment in the affected arm were not correlated (p > 0.05).
Limbs affected with lymphedema were found to be weaker in handgrip strength and this weakness continued throughout the therapy. Strengthening exercises should be considered to be added into the treatment of patients undergoing CDT to gain better functional potential.
为了确定乳腺癌相关淋巴水肿中使用的完全消肿疗法（CDT）是否会影响患侧手臂的肌肉力量，同时评估该疗法的疗效。
本研究纳入了 74 例乳腺癌相关淋巴水肿患者。记录了患者的人口统计学和临床病史特征。然后，使用手持测力计在 CDT 前后测量四肢体积和握力，对患者进行评估。然后使用相关统计方法对数据进行评估。
患者的平均 CDT 持续时间为 17.5±8.93 天。治疗后患侧手臂明显改善（p<0.01）。患侧与另一侧之间的差异具有统计学意义，治疗后这种差异仍然存在（p<0.01）。治疗后患侧的握力变化无统计学意义（p>0.05）。治疗前后患侧的握力差异和体积差异无相关性（p>0.05）。
患有淋巴水肿的肢体握力较弱，且这种无力在整个治疗过程中持续存在。应考虑在接受 CDT 的患者的治疗中加入强化锻炼，以获得更好的功能潜力。
