Efficacy of low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a cross-over randomized trial
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- dc.contributor.author Belmonte Martinez, Roser
- dc.contributor.author Tejero Sánchez, Marta
- dc.contributor.author Ferrer Forés, Maria Montserrat
- dc.contributor.author Muniesa Portoles, Josep M.
- dc.contributor.author Duarte Oller, Esther
- dc.contributor.author Cunillera, Oriol
- dc.contributor.author Escalada, Ferran
- dc.date.accessioned 2022-07-12T06:16:04Z
- dc.date.available 2022-07-12T06:16:04Z
- dc.date.issued 2012
- dc.description.abstract Objective: To compare the efficacy of low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy and manual lymphatic drainage in the treatment of chronic upper limb breast cancer-related lymphoedema. Design: Cross-over single-blind random clinical trial. Setting: Rehabilitation service. Participants: Thirty-six women with chronic upper limb breast cancer-related lymphoedema. Methods: Patients were randomized to undergo 10 sessions of manual lymphatic drainage followed by 10 sessions of low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy or to undergo first low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy followed by manual lymphatic drainage. There was a month of washout time between treatments. Each patient was examined just before and after each treatment. Researchers and outcome assessors were blinded for assigned treatment. Measures: Outcomes were lymphoedema volume, pain, heaviness and tightness, and health-related quality of life measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Questionnaire for Breast Cancer version 4 (FACT-B+4). Carry-over, period and treatment effects were analysed. Treatment effect was assessed using paired t-test. Results: Thirty patients finalized treatment. Comparing the changes in low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy with manual lymphatic drainage changes, there were no significant differences. Low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy did not reduce lymphoedema volume (mean of change = 19.77 mL, P = 0.36), but significant reductions were observed in pain, heaviness and tightness (mean of change = 13.1, 16.2 and 6.4 mm, respectively), and FACT-B+4 summaries improved significantly (Trial Outcome Index mean of change = 5.4, P = 0.015). Manual lymphatic drainage showed no significant changes in any of the outcomes. Conclusion: Although there are no significant differences between treatment changes, the observed trend towards a better health-related quality of life is remarkable in low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy.
- dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
- dc.identifier.citation Belmonte R, Tejero M, Ferrer M, Muniesa JM, Duarte E, Cunillera O, Escalada F. Efficacy of low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a cross-over randomized trial. Clin Rehabil. 2012 Jul;26(7):607-18. DOI: 10.1177/0269215511427414
- dc.identifier.doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269215511427414
- dc.identifier.issn 0269-2155
- dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10230/53714
- dc.language.iso eng
- dc.publisher SAGE Publications
- dc.relation.ispartof Clin Rehabil. 2012 Jul;26(7):607-18
- dc.rights © The Author(s) 2011. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 3.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page(http://www.uk.sagepub.com/aboutus/openaccess.htm).
- dc.rights.accessRights info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
- dc.rights.uri http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
- dc.subject.keyword Breast cancer
- dc.subject.keyword Electric stimulation therapy
- dc.subject.keyword Lymphoedema
- dc.subject.keyword Physical therapy
- dc.subject.keyword Quality of life
- dc.title Efficacy of low-frequency low-intensity electrotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a cross-over randomized trial
- dc.type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
- dc.type.version info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion